Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Why SP’s suspension was revoked in a month, asks Madras HC
Tamil Nadu AG cited suspension to reject demand for CBI probe into Kallakurichi tragedy
Madras High Court (File)
CHENNAI: If the Kallakurichi SP failed to control the illicit liquor trade, why was his suspension revoked after just a month, Madras High Court asked the State.
Hearing a batch of petitions seeking a CBI probe into the matter, the first division bench of acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji directed the State police to file a district-wise report on the number of hooch cases registered.
Advocate General (AG) PS Raman submitted that the investigation was on the right track and said the police have found that the methanol mixed in the arrack was procured from a chemical dealer from Madhavaram. He also submitted the details of the chain of persons involved in the hooch trade.
Objecting to the petitioners’ contention that the people have lost confidence in the investigation, he said there was no nexus between the police, local politicians and criminals and added that the case need not be transferred to CBI.
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The bench intervened and observed that the investigation officer’s report does not mention the details of the victims who were initially admitted to the hospital immediately after consuming the spurious liquor. The bench also asked whether the police were aware of the incident before one of the victims lodged a formal complaint on June 19, a day after the incident.
The AG said the police had no information before the formal complaint was received and added that the district SP was suspended for failing to control the hooch trade. The bench then asked what made the State revoke the suspension one month later despite failing to supervise his jurisdiction.
Appearing for one petitioner, senior counsel V Raghavachari said that the State was not taking any action to control illicit liquor, which resulted in several deaths every year. Pointing out that the key accused, Govindarajan alias Kannukutti, was a habitual offender with a history of selling hooch from 2009, he said the police’s failure to take action despite knowing his criminal nature revealed the nexus between criminals and police.
The bench posted the matter to September 5.