BJP Leaders Detained Ahead of Protest Over ₹1,000 Crore TASMAC Irregularities

A group of senior BJP leaders, including Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai and former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, were detained hours before they planned to protest against the alleged ₹1,000 crore irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered these irregularities following recent raids. The detained leaders were later released in the evening.

Detention of BJP Leaders

Annamalai was detained from his residence in Chennai’s Akkarai as he prepared to march toward the TASMAC headquarters in Egmore. Tamilisai Soundararajan was also picked up from her home.

Alongside them, BJP’s Mahila Morcha head and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, MLA C Saraswathi, senior leader H Raja, and the party’s youth wing leader in Tamil Nadu, P Vinoj, were also held at various locations across the city.

Annamalai strongly criticized the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accusing them of misusing state police to suppress the protest.

“People of Tamil Nadu know that the accused number 1 in the TASMAC Liquor scam is TN CM Thiru (MK Stalin) @mkstalin,” he posted on X. He further added, “We will continue to protest against this corrupt, tyrannical DMK govt. How long will you keep arresting us?”

Annamalai claimed that the actual value of the scam could be much larger than the ₹1,000 crore figure cited by the ED. “This ₹1,000 crore is the tip of the iceberg,” he said to reporters.

“My estimate is that the scam could be worth ₹40,000 crore. But since I am in a responsible position, I am quoting the ₹1,000 crore mentioned by the ED.”

Details of the TASMAC Scam

TASMAC holds a monopoly over liquor sales in Tamil Nadu, making it a significant source of revenue for the state government.

On March 13, the ED revealed that they recovered data linked to suspicious transfer postings, transport tenders, bar license tenders, and indent orders favoring certain distillery companies during the raids conducted on March 6 in Chennai.

The ED also alleged that TASMAC was overcharging ₹10-30 per bottle, and some distillers were systematically inflating costs and fabricating bogus purchases to siphon funds.

The agency claimed that evidence of these activities was obtained after raiding TASMAC’s offices and associated distilleries.

TASMAC comes under the control of Senthil Balaji, the excise and electricity minister, who is currently out on bail after being arrested by the ED in 2023 for alleged money laundering involving job-related bribes in the transport department.

Political Reactions and Support

Despite their political differences, DMK’s ally, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), voiced support for the BJP’s protest. VCK chief and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan stated, “Our stand is that liquor shops in Tamil Nadu should be closed down, and we will welcome anyone who supports that.”

Chennai police, under the control of MK Stalin’s government, justified the detentions by claiming that BJP had not obtained the necessary permission for the protest.

However, BJP leaders argued that the detentions were politically motivated.

Tamilisai Soundararajan stated from a police vehicle, “I was arrested from my house. I will not go without my party workers.”

Annamalai’s Response and BJP’s Allegations

Annamalai accused the DMK of trying to intimidate the BJP through police action. “You have been using the lower-level officials for your own work. Is it because we announced the protest in advance that you are acting this way? What will you do if we protest without prior notice?” he questioned.

BJP leaders shared photos showing the detained leaders being held at a location that appeared to be a function venue.

The protest followed the ED’s raids on state distilleries, which exposed “incriminating data” about bar license tenders and financial misconduct.

The ED alleged that distillers systematically inflated expenses and produced fake purchase records to divert funds amounting to ₹1,000 crore.

Premises linked to key associates of Excise Minister Senthil Balaji were also raided. Balaji denied the allegations, calling the ED’s actions politically motivated.

He argued that the DMK was being targeted due to its conflict with the BJP over the issues of “Hindi imposition” and political delimitation.

“The ED has provided no details about the FIRs on which it has acted. The alleged irregularities involve distillers, not TASMAC directly. The Tamil Nadu government has no involvement in this,” Balaji said.

Opposition and Allegations

AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami also criticized the DMK, suggesting that the scam might be as large as ₹40,000 crore. BJP chief Annamalai reiterated that Chief Minister MK Stalin is the “number one accused” in the case.

“The autocratic DMK government thinks that by using the state police department, it can suppress our protest against the ₹1,000 crore liquor scam by arresting our leaders and cadres. People of Tamil Nadu know that the accused number one in the TASMAC liquor scam is MK Stalin,” Annamalai posted on X.

He further stated, “We will continue to protest against this corrupt and tyrannical DMK government.”

The BJP had previously announced its plan to protest at TASMAC’s headquarters over the alleged ₹1,000 crore scam.

The ED has claimed that the scam involved kickbacks and manipulation of tender processes, with evidence collected from raids on March 6.

Future Course of Action

Annamalai vowed to continue the protest despite the state’s attempts to suppress it. He expressed confidence that the protest would expose the DMK’s corrupt practices and lead to political change in Tamil Nadu.