24X7 bars in Koyambedu, Mogappair raided, sealed

CHENNAI: A day after TOI reported about three bars attached to TASMAC wine shops operating as liquor outlets selling alcoholic beverages round-the-clock, Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) of the Tamil Nadu police and TASMAC authorities raided the bars on Monday.
PEW Anna Nagar inspector Prabhu said four persons were arrested for illegally marketing liquor in the bars. "We raided four bars, two each in Kaliamman Koil Street at Koyambedu and Golden George Rathnam Road in Mogappair at 10.30 am on Monday. During the raids, we found that liquor was sold at the bars," he said.
Following the seizure, C Samy (54), K Ramachandiran (31), M Boopathi (24) and A Vishnu (22) were arrested from the bars and cases registered under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. As many as 106 liquor bottles were seized from the accused, the police officer added. The raids were jointly conducted by PEW and TASMAC officials.
Throwing rules to the wind, the bars had doubled up as wine shops selling liquor 24/7. These licenced deluxe bars attached to TASMAC wine shops were supposed to provide only snacks and cooked side dishes for the consumers as per the prohibition and excise rules. However, the bars were operating on the lines of liquor outlets with a salesman selling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer for customers. They were marketing the alcoholic beverages at inflated rates.
The PEW of the Tamil Nadu police has further recommended sealing the bars to TASMAC, police said. When contacted, a senior TASMAC official said that notices have been issued to bar owners on charges of selling liquor in violation of rules. "They have to respond to the notice. Based on the response, we will cancel the licence for the bars, wherein the licence owners cannot bid for any bars attached to TASMAC wine shops in future," the TASMAC official said. After cancellation of licence, re-tender would be called for the bars, sources added.