Actor Vijay, who heads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on Sunday accused the ruling DMK government of corruption in the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, known as Tasmac. He claimed that the DMK was complicit in the liquor ‘scam’ and called for an independent investigation.
Vijay referred to recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Tasmac premises and individuals linked to the liquor network in the state. He said, “The investigation exposed a web of corruption in its functioning.”
He added that irregularities had been found in recruitment, employee transfers, vehicle tenders and bar licence issuance.
The ED said it found “large-scale” corruption at Tasmac offices during search operations at various premises across several districts in Tamil Nadu on March 6. The agency found incriminating data related to transfer postings, transport tenders, bar licence tenders, indent orders favouring certain distillery companies, and an excess charge of Rs 10-30 per bottle by Tasmac outlets involving officials at Tasmac offices.
The ED identified three primary issues: Tasmac shops collecting more than the actual MRP, distillery companies offering kickbacks to Tasmac officials for supply orders, and senior Tasmac officials taking bribes from retail Tasmac shops and for staff transfers and postings.
