PMK Leader Anbumani Ramadoss: Tamil Nadu Government Must Order a CBI Probe into TASMAC Corruption
PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi) leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to order a full-fledged CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry into the alleged large-scale corruption within the state-run TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation).
Following recent raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the TASMAC headquarters and several liquor manufacturing units, reports suggest that financial irregularities amounting to at least ₹1,000 crore have surfaced.
Anbumani Ramadoss’ Statement on TASMAC Corruption:
“The recent revelations about large-scale corruption in TASMAC and the mismanagement of liquor sales in Tamil Nadu are deeply concerning. The ED raids on TASMAC offices have exposed only a fraction of the massive corruption within the organization.
Reports indicate that only a small portion of the ₹1,000 crore embezzled funds went to TASMAC officials. The whereabouts of the remaining majority of the funds remain unknown. This raises a serious question about the involvement of higher authorities. Given the gravity of the situation, this case cannot be handled by state-controlled investigative agencies. Hence, the Tamil Nadu government must immediately order a CBI probe to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Excise Tax Evasion in Liquor Sales: Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan’s Comments
Anbumani Ramadoss highlighted that former Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan had previously admitted that over 50% of excise duty and sales tax on liquor sold in the state remained unpaid. This raises concerns about the extent of tax evasion in the liquor industry and calls for a deeper investigation into the financial misconduct within TASMAC.
Illegal Liquor Shops – Is the Government Providing Protection?
Officially, Tamil Nadu has 4,829 TASMAC liquor outlets. However, Anbumani alleged that more than 20,000 illegal liquor stalls are also operating across the state. He accused the government of deliberately turning a blind eye to these illegal outlets and even offering them protection by manipulating legal procedures and filing false cases.
He further questioned whether this practice of safeguarding illegal liquor shops had become a standard policy under the so-called “Dravidian Model” governance.
Enforcement Directorate’s Raids and the Questions They Raise
The ED’s raids on TASMAC offices, liquor manufacturing plants, and distribution networks have revealed shocking details about the scale of corruption. Reports suggest that a substantial portion of illicit earnings has been funneled elsewhere, but the ultimate beneficiaries of this massive scam remain unidentified.
Anbumani Ramadoss strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu government for allegedly attempting to divert attention from these serious allegations instead of addressing them transparently.
“The TASMAC scam cannot be covered up. The beneficiaries of this corruption must be identified, and strict legal action should be taken against them. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu government must immediately order a CBI investigation into this matter.” – Anbumani Ramadoss.
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