Tasmac moves HC to halt ED probe into alleged liquor scam

Cleared - mani
Chennai: Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has moved the Madras high court seeking to restrain the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from investigating the alleged liquor scam in the corporation. Recently, ED officials conducted raids for three days at around 20 locations, including the TASMAC headquarters. Following the raid, the ED released a report stating that the searches were based on various cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
According to the report, TASMAC was charging Rs 10 to Rs 30 more per liquor bottle than the prescribed price, distilleries were bribing TASMAC officials, and the procurement volumes were underreported. It also stated that bribes were paid for employee transfers and bar licences. The report further revealed that there was direct evidence of contact between senior TASMAC officials and liquor companies. It was also found that contracts were awarded to individuals closely associated with TASMAC officials.
The report claimed that TASMAC paid Rs 100 crore annually to transport corporations and that over Rs 1,000 crore of unaccounted money may have circulated through TASMAC due to these irregularities. Opposing the allegations, TASMAC has filed three petitions seeking to prevent the ED from taking action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) without the state govt's consent.
It wanted the court to prohibit the ED from harassing TASMAC officials or employees under the guise of investigation and to declare the ED's recent raids (from March 6 to March 8) and the seizure of documents as illegal. The pleas are likely to be taken up for hearing this week.
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