Tamil rapper Arivu detained during bid to protest against NEET near Secretariat in Chennai, CM Vijay meets him
Tamil rapper Arivu was briefly detained by Chennai police while protesting against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Following his release, he met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to discuss his concerns.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the political tension surrounding NEET in Tamil Nadu and the intersection of celebrity activism with state governance.
Popular Tamil rapper Arivu (Arivarasu Kalainesan) was detained by Greater Chennai City police after he and three others attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Arivu and the three protesters gathered at the entrance of the Secretariat and raised slogans demanding that NEET be scrapped. They also sought action against the police over the crackdown on protesters during the march to Parliament in Delhi .
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