S. Muthusamy. File
| Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
Tamil Nadu Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Prohibition, and Excise S. Muthusamy on Saturday (May 17, 2025) condemned the searches carried out by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on the premises linked to government officials and others in connection with the alleged ₹1,000-crore liquor ‘scam’ in Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). He said the State government would take the necessary legal measures and support the officials.
In a statement, Mr. Muthusamy said the ED conducted searches on the premises of TASMAC Managing Director S. Visakan and other top officials on Friday (May 16).
There was no evidence found in the searches, but the ED is harassing the officials, the Minister alleged, adding that the agency has breached Supreme Court guidelines for “political vendetta”.
Mr. Muthusamy also said on the basis of cases registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption during the previous AIADMK regime, the ED had conducted searches in TASMAC last month with a “political motive” to portray that the irregularities occurred during the DMK regime.
No evidence was found, but the ED spread “imaginary news” that irregularities to the tune of ₹1,000 crore was unearthed in TASMAC, Mr. Muthusamy said.
To justify this false news, the ED is continuously harassing TASMAC officials, he added.
Published – May 17, 2025 03:22 pm IST
