Two more people were arrested for allegedly spreading rumours about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's health on Thursday, The News Minute reported. The Chennai Crime Branch's personnel registered cases of rumour with intent to cause riots against the accused, Thirumani Selvam from Thoothukudi and Balasundaram from Pammal.

On October 10, Chennai police had arrested two people for allegedly circulating similar rumours on social media platforms. One of the men arrested was a software engineer, who manages a website on which he allegedly uploaded false information about the leader.

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Over 50 cases have been registered against people for spreading rumours about Jayalalithaa's health. On October 10, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam launched a social media campaign urging supporters to help end speculation about the chief minister’s condition. The party has asked supporters to use the campaign’s image as their profile picture and use the hashtags #MyCMIsFine and #NoMoreRumours.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 for dehydration and fever. Apollo Hospital had released a statement saying she is being constantly monitored by “intensivists and other consultants in the expert panel”, and that she is on respiratory support, while being given antibiotics, nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy.

Several leaders including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and state Opposition leader MK Stalin have visited Apollo Hospital to meet the AIADMK chief. The chief minister's health has been a major concern for the state, even though the party has maintained that she is recovering. Mass prayer sessions, seeking divine intervention for the chief minister's speedy recovery, are being held across the state. Her illness comes as the state is embroiled in the Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Karnataka.