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Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, including K Annamalai, were detained ahead of their protest against alleged Rs 1,000 crore irregularities in state-run liquor retailer TASMAC.
K Annamalai detained in Chennai (Photo: X@annamalai_k)
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, women’s wing national chief Vanathi Srinivasan, and scores of other Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were detained on Monday ahead of the party’s protest against the alleged irregularities in state-run liquor retailer TASMAC.
Annamalai, clad in a black shirt, was detained near his house along with his supporters by the police.
Later, in an X post, the BJP state chief accused Chief Minister MK Stalin as being the “number one accused” in the case.
“The autocratic DMK Govt thinks that by using the State Police dept, it has curtailed our protest against the 1000 Crore Rupees Liquor Scam by arresting our leaders, functionaries & cadres of BJP Tamil Nadu. People of TN know that the accused number 1 in the TASMAC Liquor scam is MK Stalin,” Annamalai wrote.
“We will continue to protest against this corrupt, tyrannical DMK Govt,” his post read further.
The autocratic DMK Govt thinks that by using the State Police dept, it has curtailed our protest against the 1000 Crore Rupees Liquor Scam by arresting our leaders, functionaries & cadres of @BJP4TamilNadu.People of TN know that the acussed number 1 in the TASMAC Liquor scam… pic.twitter.com/42vcZZsKwS
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 17, 2025
The BJP had announced a picketing protest of the TASMAC headquarters over the alleged Rs 1,000 crore irregularities, as claimed by the Enforcement Directorate, following multiple raids across state-owned organisations, including TASMAC and related premises.
The other leaders detained today included H Raja, BJP Mahila Morcha chief and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, the party’s Modakurichi legislator Dr C Saraswathi, and functionaries including Vinoj P Selvam and Amar Prasad Reddy.
Earlier, the ED had said it had found “multiple irregularities” in the operations of TASMAC, including “manipulation” in the tender processes and “unaccounted” cash transactions worth Rs 1,000 crore through distillery companies.
The federal agency had claimed it got ‘evidence’ suggesting these corrupt practices after it raided the employees, corporate offices of distilleries and plants of TASMAC on March 6.
There were ‘kickbacks’ involved, it had claimed.
