Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: 3 Accused Sent to 15-Day Judicial Custody

Chennai: A District Court judge has remanded the three accused in the hooch tragedy to 15-day judicial custody until July 5. A single-judge bench of Justice Sriram passed the order. Meanwhile, the death toll in the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi climbed to 51, officials said on Friday.  

The three accused, identified as Govindaraj, Damadoran, and Vijaya, were detained at Cuddalore prison.

Kallakurichi DC Transferred, SP Suspended

Meanwhile, CM MK Stalin on Friday said that Kallakurichi District Collector has been transferred and the Kallakurichi SP has been suspended after the tragic incident.

He said, "Kallakurichi District Collector has been transferred. Kallakurichi SP has been suspended. Other concerned Police officials were also suspended. The case has been transferred to CBCID. We are taking all required measures effectively to curb drug menace which affects future generation the worst."

‘Toll May Rise to 60’

Speaking to reporters, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) chief Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said the toll may rise to 60.

Ramadoss said, "Till now, 50 people have died and as a doctor, I think it will increase to 60. There is no antidote to save the patients. I demand an FIR against SP and Collector on this illicit liquor issue. We, the PMK, demand a CBI enquiry on this Kallakurichi illicit liquor issue."

BJP Seeks CBI Probe in Hooch Tragedy

The hooch tragedy had a triggered a war of words between political leaders with AIADMK demanding CM Stalin's resignation and BJP accusing the DMK of being involved in the tragic incident. The Tamil Nadu BJP has sought a CBI probe into the deaths.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai on Thursday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a CBI enquiry into the deaths caused by illicit liquor in Kallakurichi. Accusing the ruling DMK government of being involved in the illicit liquor death incident, Annamalai alleged collusion between DMK members and local liquor sellers.

"We want to inform your good office that a similar incident that occurred in May 2023 in Marakkanam of Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district and Chengalpattu district claimed 23 precious lives. In the past two years, Tamil Nadu has lost over 60 lives to hooch because of the ineffective governance of the DMK government," he had said in a letter to the Union Home Minister.

"It is evident that the sale of illicit liquor is done in full public view with the knowledge of the local police, who operate under the direction of local political leaders belonging to the DMK. Considering the dire state of governance in Tamil Nadu under the DMK rule, on behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, we kindly request your good office to order a CBI enquiry on this matter as we firmly believe that the DMK Government will curtail the State Police's from bringing all the persons responsible for the deaths before the court of law," he said in the letter.

The state government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragic incident. The inquiry will be led by ex-Madras high court judge Justice B Gokuldas. The Justice is expected to submit a report within three months.

AIADMK Demands CM Stalin's Resignation, DMK Hits Back 

Meanwhile, the second day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Session began on Friday amid a ruckus created by the AIADMK MLAs who sported black clothes and raised slogans inside the House over the hooch tragedy. The MLAs, who were holding placards demanding the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin, shouted slogans against the government and insisted that the issue should be discussed immediately. The state assembly session yesterday ended by paying respects to those who died from consuming spurious liquor in Kallakurichi. 

Responding to the hooch tragedy, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, "These things were happening in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar also. What steps they have taken? These are just third rated people who are trying to win the elections. While reacting to people demanding CM's resignation, he said, "A lot of people died during the Jayalalithaa time also. Did she resign?"

Earlier, Kallakurichi Collector said special teams have been formed to prevent the sale of illicit arrack in the district and they have been told to take up intense combing operations.

Rs 10L Ex-Gratia For Kin of Victims

Earlier, Chief Minister MK Stalin had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each of deceased victims, with those under treatment to receive Rs 50,000 each. Victims were undergoing treatment at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital and in Hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.