ED Expands Probe into TASMAC, Seeks Detailed Financial Records of 4,829 Outlets

In a probe that seems to permeate the entire gamut of liquor trade in Tamil Nadu, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) officials to provide detailed financial records of all the 4,829 TASMAC retail outlets and details about bar licenses and breweries and distilleries, etc., following its recent search at the TASMAC headquarters and regional offices.

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN @Chennai

To comply with the direction, TASMAC district managers across Tamil Nadu have been involved in gathering data, and details collated so far have been submitted to the agency through the managing director's office, officials said.

A senior TASMAC official told TNIE, "Last year, bar licenses were issued through a tender process across the state. The ED officials inquired about the selection process, details of bar owners, and their political connections."