Chennai, July 29: The Tamil Nadu government has initiated significant action in response to alleged financial irregularities within the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption is conducting simultaneous raids at 41 locations across the state as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption allegations.
According to government sources, the raids are being carried out at warehouses, distilleries, and other establishments suspected of involvement in irregularities related to TASMAC’s procurement and distribution processes.
Locations including Erode, Coimbatore, Peelamedu, Pollachi, Narasimhanaickenpalayam, and Navakkarai are among those being searched.
Officials reported that the Directorate has also conducted searches at the Sivas Distillery near Mettupalayam and a liquor factory in Mannargudi, which is reportedly owned by a senior leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.
This investigation comes amid allegations that Tamil Nadu’s liquor sales network has long been operating through illegal cash collections.
Currently, there are 4,048 registered liquor shops under TASMAC in Tamil Nadu. It is claimed that approximately ₹102 crores are illegally collected monthly under the guise of “party funds.” If this has been ongoing for the past five years, the total amount could reach around ₹3,600 crores. However, the government has not officially confirmed these claims, and the matter remains under investigation.
It is believed that senior government officials have informed Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay about the alleged irregularities. Following this, the government has directed officials to enhance transparency in TASMAC’s revenue collection and accounting systems.
The government has also decided to review the current system for returning and maintaining empty liquor bottles. Officials believe that stricter monitoring is necessary to prevent potential revenue losses.
In line with its key policies and electoral promises, the government has already closed 717 liquor shops located near schools, colleges, and other public places.
Sources indicate that the Chief Minister has instructed officials to maintain accurate records of every rupee earned from TASMAC sales and ensure that the entire amount is deposited into the state treasury.
Reports suggest that the administration has directed an end to the long-standing alleged illegal cash collection practices within TASMAC’s wholesale and retail sales network.
There are expectations that evidence gathered from the Directorate’s raids could lead the state government to take further action against corruption in the liquor distribution system.
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