VILLUPURAM/CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu DGP C Sylendra Babu in a press release on Tuesday said it was consumption of industrial spirit that led to the deaths in Marakkanam and Maduranthagam and not spurious liquor as was initially suspected. Samples of the concoction sent for forensic examination proved that it was a methanol-infused industrial spirit, the DGP’s note said. The statement also said the spirit sold in both places was bought from the same person, Ezhumalai of Puducherry.
Police sources said Ezhumalai (51), a resident of Thattanchavady at Villianur in Puducherry, and his accomplice Barkadullah alias Raja (53) surrendered on Tuesday before the special team of Tamil Nadu police investigating the case. Based on Ezhumalai’s statement, police also arrested Elayaraja, who is running a chemical factory in Porur in Chennai.
Ezhumalai and Raja procured the industrial spirit from Elayaraja and supplied it to the local sellers in Maduranthagam and Marakkanam. Sources said police are taking steps to remand all the three key accused though no arrests have been officially declared yet.
As per the DGP’s note, the person who sold the spirit in Marakkanam was identified as Amaran. The accused, who has been arrested, told police that he got the spirit from Muthu, who in turn got it from
Ezhumalai.
‘Probe on to check if industrial units had a role’
At Perambakkam and Perukkarani, police arrested the supplier identified as Ammavasai. He too allegedly drank the spirit and is currently under treatment. He had confessed that he bought the chemical from two people, Velu and Chandran. Inquiries revealed that Velu had bought it from Rajesh, who got it from Viji, and Viji had bought it from Ezhumalai. A total of 20 people had died after consuming the brew over the past three days --- 13 from Marakkanam and seven from Perambakkam and Perukkarani.
The DGP on Tuesday ordered the two cases be transferred to CB-CID, a day after CM made announcement to transfer the probe. K Rajavelu (38) of Ekkiyarkuppam and Shankar (48) and Thambu (60) Perukkarani died on Tuesday. Health minister Ma Subramanian visited the hospital and met the victims. Meanwhile, wife of a 45-year-old man who died in Vellore on Monday claimed that her husband too had died due to spurious liquor.
Police, however, said the man was an epileptic and cause of death can be established only after a postmortem. Puducherry police said villagers residing near Tamil Nadu border procure industrial spirits from surgical materials shops. “Normally, these spiri ts are meant for institutions, hospitals, and laboratories. But, people, using fake IDs, procure industrial spirit, which is smuggled into nearby districts,” sources said.
The DGP’s press note said that since the manufacture and sale of spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu had drastically come down in recent years, its smuggling to other states too has reduced. The lack of availability of spurious liquor had triggered the alleged theft and sale of industrial spirits. A probe is on to find out whether industries are involved in the illegal sale, the note said.
Speaking to reporters in Villupuram, Subramanian said, “Seventy individuals from Ekkiyarkuppam had consumed the brew and 13 people had died so far. Currently, 50 individuals are undergoing treatment at the Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital, and seven people are receiving medical care at JIPMER and Government Hospital in Puducherry.” Eight doctor teams and three monitoring teams, consisting of 11 doctors, have been constituted to oversee the treatment.
Earlier in the day, ministers Ponmudy and Masthan visited Ekkiyarkuppam to provide Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the dead. The NHRC, meanwhile, has sent notices to the state government and the DGP seeking a detailed report within four weeks on the deaths.
Will discuss methanol ban with officials: MaSu
Chennai: Methanol is being used in making several products, and therefore, steps to ban it will be taken in consultation with all officials, Health Minister Ma Subramanian told reporters on Tuesday.