Supreme Court upholds CBI probe into Kallakurichi hooch tragedy
The apex court said it did not want to interfere with the HC decision to transfer the case to the CBI
Supreme Court of India (PTI)
CHENNAI: In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the Tamil Nadu government's appeal challenging the Madras High Court's order to transfer the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A division bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan heard the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the state government, which had argued that the investigation will be delayed if the case was handed over to the CBI.
However, the apex court rejected the state government's contention, observing there was no justification to interfere with the high court's order.
The court made it clear that it did not want to interfere with the Madras High Court's decision to transfer the case to the CBI.
The Kallakurichi hooch tragedy had claimed the lives of over 68 people in June and July this year after they consumed 'paper arrack' mixed with methanol.
The incident had sparked widespread outrage and had a significant impact on Tamil Nadu politics.
Hours after the tragedy, Chief Minister MK Stalin had issued orders to transfer the case to CB-CID. Three people involved in selling the spurious liquor in Karunapuram were held. About 200 litres of pocket liquor that contained high levels of methanol was also seized. Further, the district collector was transferred and the ADGP (prohibition) was put on compulsory wait while the superintendent of police and other officials were placed on suspension.
On November 20, the Madras High Court ordered the transfer of the case to the CBI, after expressing disappointment over the Tamil Nadu government’s failure to take stern action against the police and other officials concerned, despite the loss of so many lives, following which the Tamil Nadu government had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.
With the Supreme Court upholding the High Court's order, the CBI will now continue to investigate the case.
The development is seen as a significant setback for the Tamil Nadu government, which had been opposing the CBI probe into the tragedy.