Officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) searched premises belonging to acquaintances of Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise V. Senthilbalaji in Karur on Thursday.
The ED sleuths also searched 25 locations linked to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd. (Tasmac), its employees, and corporate offices of distilleries and plants in the State. In Karur, the premises of a Public Works Department contractor, M.C. Sankar Anand; and Karthi of Sakthi mess; and the residence of Subramani, a partner of Kongu mess, among others, were searched. An ED team also went to the house of Anand at Mayanur where his parents reside. However, as no one was present in the house at the time, the officials waited for six hours. Upon finding out that the occupants had stepped out to condole a death, the officials returned to Karur.
The ED sleuths began the searches simultaneously in Karur around 8 a.m., said sources.
The ED teams were accompanied by personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force. No outsiders were allowed entry. Those who were already inside the premises were not allowed to exit them. The searches continued beyond 7 p.m.
As for searches at Tasmac offices and other places, sources said the ED was acting on an information pertaining to alleged irregularities in liquor procurement. It was also investigating a suspected money laundering angle in the procurement of liquor from distilleries and breweries..
The Tasmac office on the CMDA Building in Egmore was among the premises searched. Central Industrial Security Force personnel stood guard outside during the search. Offices of Accord Distilleries and Breweries at T. Nagar, which is linked to DMK MP S. Jagathrakshakan and his family members; the SNJ Breweries at Egmore; and the KAL Breweries in T. Nagar, among others, were also searched. A Tasmac godown in Ambattur and the residence of a former financial controller of Tangedco in Chennai were searched too, sources added.
(With inputs from Chennai).
Published - March 06, 2025 10:53 pm IST
