Chennai, Mar 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise

V. Senthilbalaji on Friday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the

state-owned TASMAC was done with ulterior motives.

He also denied the ED claim that it has unearthed Rs 1,000 crore irregularities in

TASMAC involving various distilleries and bottling companies.

Stating that the ED has made these allegations without any evidence, the Minister

he said he would face the charges legally.

He said though the ED had initiated investigations on the basis of multiple First

Information Reports (FIRs) under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption

Act, 1998, it had not explained clearly when these FIRs were filed.

M Senthilbalaji said as Chief Minister M K Stalin has been stoutly opposing the

NEP, refusing to accept the three-language policy and also delimitation based

on population, the Centre has misused the ED to conduct the raids.

It was an attempt to tarnish the image of the Chief Minister who enjoys the goodwill

and confidence of the people.

He also asserted that there was no scope for irregularities as claimed by the ED and

all the tender process were done in a transparent manner as per the rules.

After the three-day raids, the ED in a statement on Thursday evening said

the searches at premises of several private distilleries and TASMAC head

office in the city and across Tamil Nadu, has revealed massive irregularities

to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crores.

It said the collusion between distilleries and bottling firms having indulged in

fraudulent measures have come to light in this irregularities.

The raids also revealed a network where unaccounted cash was deliberately

generated through inflated and bogus expenses and subsequently utilized for

purposes leading to huge profits.

It said ED has conducted search operations at various premises across many

districts of Tamil Nadu from March six under the provisions of Prevention of

Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for various offences related to the

Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) and its associated

entities/persons.

The ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered under

various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 related to various issues

in the TASMAC.

These FIRs fall into the categories of TASMAC shops collecting excess amount

than the actual MRP; Distillery companies offering kickbacks to TASMAC officials

for supply orders; involvement of Senior officials of TASMAC in collection of bribes

from the Retail TASMAC outlets and for transfer and posting of TASMAC Staff, etc.

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