After Kallakurichi deaths, TN govt enhances punishment for bootleggers

Days after the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in the state claimed 65 lives, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday (June 29) amended a prohibition act to substantially enhance the punishment, which included life imprisonment for bootleggers in the case of fatalities following the consumption of spurious liquor.

The state government amended the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 to enhance the punishment term and quantum of fine for offences such as manufacture, possession, and selling of illicit liquor that endangers lives.

Enhanced term of imprisonment, quantum of fine

The Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2024, which shall come into force on such date as notified by the government, aims to completely eradicate the menace of illicit liquor from the state.

The amendment substantially enhances the term of imprisonment and quantum of fine for various offences under sections 4,5,6,7 and 11 of the Act.

Accordingly, a maximum punishment of 10-year Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh has been proposed in the amendment.

In the case of death due to consumption of illicit liquor, the punishment for bootleggers will be RI for life with a fine not less than Rs 10 lakh, it said.

Onus on police: Stalin

The Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that happened about a fortnight ago left 65 people dead, including six women and a transgender person. Twenty people are still being treated across hospitals. The ruling DMK faced flak over the issue from its rival and main opposition party, the AIADMK and the BJP, which have been demanding a CBI probe into the spurious liquor issue in the state’s northern district.

Stalin also told the Assembly that the onus on the hooch tragedy will be on district police superintendent and local police official and accused the AIADMK of raising the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy to conceal its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections and crisis within that party.

Asserting that the state government has nothing to hide about the Kallakurichi incident, he said the opposition party’s demand for CBI probe was uncalled for as his government has acted swiftly on the incident and arrested the offenders, shifted officials, constituted an enquiry commission and ordered a probe by the Crime Branch CID.

Nothing to hide: Stalin

“We created a situation where no one can escape,” the chief minister added.

“Despite all these efforts, that too within 24 hours, the AIADMK is insisting on a CBI enquiry. We have nothing to hide unlike the Sathankulam custodial death (in Thoothukudi district in 2020) case during the previous AIADMK regime,” Stalin said, winding up the debate on the demand for grants to home department, a portfolio he holds.

The DMK had then sought a probe by the CBI as the previous AIADMK government “concealed and distorted facts” on the Sathankulam incident, he said.

In addition to prompt action in the Kallakurichi incident, he had sternly warned that hereafter the district police superintendent and local police official will have to take responsibility if any hooch death occurs in their jurisdiction, the chief minister said.

Bill passed

The AIADMK members, earlier this week, were suspended from the rest of the session of the Assembly that concluded on Saturday, for allegedly trying to create a ruckus over the issue in the House.

On Saturday, Congress Legislature party leader K Selvaperunthagai, supporting the government bill, suggested having a check and balance in the system, especially constituting a select committee instead of vesting all powers with the police.

PMK’s G K Mani sought the government to fix the onus on the police or particular official for hooch tragedy and take steps to introduce complete prohibition in the state.

The Bill introduced by Prohibition Minister S Muthusamy was later passed by the House.

(With agency inputs)