PUDUCHERRY: The election machinery in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is grappling with a fresh problem on hand - the smuggling of liquor from the UT to Tamil Nadu. Three cases of attempting to smuggle liquor have been booked since the model code came into effect on March 1.
A fake IMFL unit was busted at Mettupalayam on Thursday, while at Kanagachetticulam, 84 bottles were from a share auto. The fake IMFL unit in a cashew grove was used to manufacture spurious Mcdowell’s brandy by blending arrack.
Fortythree IMFL cases with fake Mcdowell brandy for sale in Tamil Naduwere loaded into a vehicle when the excise sleuths seized it. Six persons have been arrested, which include five from Kizhlmampet in Panruti taluk and one from Porayurpet, Villianur, Puducherry.
Another three from Puducherry including the driver of the vehicle escaped. The kingpin of the racket is, however, said to be from Puducherry. In yet another case on March 11, arrack in 288 bottles of 180 ml each was left unclaimed at Porayur.
Although Tamil Nadu residents have access to liquor through TASMAC, yet they seem to desire liquor from the UT as it is cheap and offers a greater variety.
Also, no thought is given as to whether it is genuine or spurious, as long as it is liquor from Puducherry.
Naturally, this has given unscrupulous elements the perfect opportunity to brew spurious liquor and make a fast buck and what better time than election time when liquor is offered as a bribe to collect votes. From one case, around Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 is earned, sources said.
The practice has come to the fore on many an occasion when the excise sleuths caught such brewing and bottling as well as transporting. Even mobile units which brewed spurious liquor and sold the same near the borders were caught by the excise department.
However, during elections the activity got more intense, which is why the excise departments of both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have joined hands to deal with the problem more strictly.
A good number of those in the business are habitual offenders against whom cases are pending.
In the Mettupalayam fake IMFL manufacturing unit, the kingpin is Kadirarasan alias Kadir (40) who is accused in four other cases.
In a recent joint meeting of excise officials from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Prohibition and Enforcement Directorate is looking for 20 such offenders from Puducherry, said R Anbazhagan, deputy collector (excise).
Now, the excise department in Puducherry has been divided into five zones - Oulgaret, Mannadipet, Villianur, Bahour and Nettapakkam for intensive monitoring. Besides, seven checkposts have been set up at Gorimedu, Mulladoi, Kanakachetticulam, Thirubuvanai, Madagadipet, Sederapet and Maducarai near the borders. Even Tamil Nadu would be setting up additional checkposts on the borders. For the first time, retailers and wholesale shop owners have been given directions not to exceed sale beyond 4 to 5 litres or half a case.
Further, the excise department has asked for additional force of 50 IRBn personnel to assist the excise personnel in monitoring the storage points of wholesale traders and shops of both wholesale traders and retailers and movements along the border, said Anbazhagan.
