Thousands of liquor cases vanish from Tasmac shops

Authorities have launched a detailed probe into the huge stock variations. The issue came to light when the officials started shifting liquor bottles from Tasmac shops to the nearest depot for security reasons.

The missing of liquor cases has raised serious concern among the authorities, who suspect few salesmen might have indulged in illegal transportation for sale in black market. Moreover, the current stock is already on the lower side to cater to the demands of consumers once the shops reopen after the lockdown.

A senior official from the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, the monopoly agency in selling liquor in the state, told DT Next that the decision to transport liquor cases from shops to depots came against the backdrop of several break-ins reported from many retail Tasmac outlets.

“However, during verification of the ledger of the last date of sales with the current stock, it was shocking to find several thousand liquor cases missing in many Tasmac shops across the state. Even from those outlets that are situated in secured places and cannot be sneaked in,” he added.

Claiming that the liquor cases might have been transported illegally in the night during the lockdown period, perhaps with the help of salesmen, the official said a probe will be launched to identify all the irregularities that took place during the total shutdown.

He also pointed out that in a particular liquor shop in the city, about 150 liquor cases were missing and the collection amount was less against the sales figure. “Most of the missing liquors were identified as low and medium brands, which were preferred by about 80 per cent of the consumers.” 

“Only after transporting all the liquor cases from the shops to the depot, the exact missing number will emerge,” he said adding “comparison list of sales and stock at each Tasmac shops will be prepared and accordingly, action will be taken against those, who indulged in irregularities.”

The official also said there were allegations that a few salesmen in elite shops in the city were also involved in illegal sale of liquor during the lockout period. “This will also be probed and action will be taken against the violators.”