Political row and police crackdown as illicit liquor toll reaches 17 in Tamil Nadu

The incident has led to a political storm, with Edappadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK general secretary and Opposition leader, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin, attributing moral responsibility for the deaths to the current administration. He said these deaths could have been prevented had the government taken timely preventive measures against brewing and sale of illicit liquor.

Early estimates from top government sources point to lapses within the state police force, which failed to take action against widespread sale of illicit liquor. A senior official attached to the state home ministry said: “The force’s attention had been disproportionately directed towards ganja peddlers in recent years.”

A high-ranking police officer monitoring the situation confirmed the arrest of five individuals for selling the illicit liquor. “It was sourced from Puducherry. Initial investigation suggests that those selling it in Villupuram and Chengalpattu were different parties but sourced it from the same plant. They typically brought 35-40 litres for sale. Approximately 45 people are currently hospitalised in five different hospitals, with at least four in a critical condition,” the officer stated.

Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (DGP), Sylendra Babu, has ordered an immediate statewide crackdown on the illicit liquor mafia. This includes measures to restrict the sale of methanol, a key ingredient in the production of counterfeit alcohol, across all districts.

As part of the crackdown, 44 dealers implicated in distribution of spurious liquor have been arrested in Tiruvarur district. A joint operation in Cuddalore district by the Prohibition Enforcement Wing and local police resulted in the arrest of 88 additional individuals linked to the brewing of illicit liquor. The police also confiscated 226 litres of spurious liquor and 517 bottles during their operations in Chidambaram, Virudhachalam, Neyveli, Sethiyathope, Panruti, and Thittakudi.

In an effort to encourage public cooperation, the Cuddalore district administration has issued a helpline number, appealing to the public to report any information related to the brewing and distribution of illicit liquor.

In addition to announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased, senior ministers including K Ponmudy have been personally meeting with the victims’ families. Chief Minister Stalin also visited victims and their families at Villupuram medical college on Monday. He said he had ordered police authorities to take strict action, and spoke to doctors treating victims to provide the best care. Stalin said illicit liquor was being sold in used liquor bottles of branded products sold at state-run government retailers.