8%-30% Methanol In Hooch; No Need For CBI Probe: TN To HC

THE Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday told the Madras High Court that preliminary tests of samples of illicit arrack, consumed by the victims of Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, showed that they had 8.6% to 29.7% methanol composition.

- R SIVAKUMAR

A status report, filed by Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena through Additional Advocate General J Ravindran before the first bench of Acting CJ R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, said that none of the well-settled circumstances under which the transfer of investigation to the CBI is ordered apply to the current hooch tragedy case.

The top officer said the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy is a separate incident and not a sequel to the Villupuram and Chengalpattu incidents of 2023 where the content of methanol in illicit arrack was 99.1% and the source of methanol was also different. Several measures have been taken to check illegal supply of methanol for arrack, Meena said. "Industrial units using methanol are being checked diligently to prevent pilferage of methanol for use as arrack," he said.