Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji on Friday afternoon strongly denied the Enforcement Directorate’s claims of “irregularities” in tender processes, and a potential fraud of Rs 1,000 crore, throughout the Tamil Nadu State Advertising and marketing Company or TASMAC, the state-run liquor gross sales company.
Mr Balaji advised stated the ED – which opposition leaders declare is utilized by the centre to focus on rival events and leaders, significantly earlier than an election, which Tamil Nadu will maintain subsequent yr – had additionally been launched due to the DMK vs BJP battle over ‘Hindi imposition’ and delimitation.
“ED has given no particulars of the FIRs on foundation of which it has acted. There isn’t any corruption in switch or transportation (of money) … the alleged irregularities are by bottling companies exterior TASMAC… Tamil Nadu authorities has no function on this,” Mr Balaji advised reporters.
“The ED is motivated… it launched its assertion to defame the Tamil Nadu authorities forward of the price range speech. This Rs 1,000 crore corruption allegation is baseless,” he stated firmly.
On Thursday the ED stated it had proof of manipulation” in tenders floated by TASMAC, in addition to “unaccounted” money transactions value Rs 1,000 crore via distillery firms.
This, it stated, emerged after raids final week on the company workplaces of those distilleries and its workers, as additionally TASMAC and authorities workplaces, together with these of “key associates” linked to Mr Balaji. These raids yielded “incriminating” information about bar licence tenders, orders favouring some distilleries, and extra prices – Rs 10 to Rs 30 per bottle – at gross sales factors, the ED stated.
READ | Probe Company Reveals Rs 1,000 Crore Irregularities In TASMAC
The information additionally exhibits, the ED has claimed, that some distilleries “systematically inflated” bills and “fabricated” bogus purchases to siphon Rs 1,000 crore in “unaccounted” money.
However Mr Balaji stated the tenders had been executed on-line and that end-to-end procurements had been made for twenty-four districts. “We are going to full within the remaining districts quickly,” he stated
“Procurement (of alcohol from distilleries to inventory TASMAC shops) was accomplished primarily based on a mean of gross sales from the final three months. There was no concession to any distillery.”
The ED’s claims have triggered a political row in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, with the primary opposition celebration, the AIADMK, and the BJP each strolling out of the Meeting at the moment throughout the price range speech.
READ | “Eye-Wash”: AIADMK Walks Out Of TN Funds, BJPs 4 MLAs Comply with
AIADMK boss E Palaniswami later advised reporters the alleged TASMAC rip-off may very well be value as a lot as Rs 40,000 crore, and demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin and his authorities resign.
“The federal government did not take any motion even after the ED raid. We demand the DMK authorities ought to resign over this… ED has stated there may be corruption of greater than Rs 1,000 crore. However it’s potential there may be truly corruption of greater than Rs 40,000 crore. The investigation is ongoing.”
The BJP has additionally attacked the DMK on this challenge, although it appears to be reserving its criticism for the ‘Hindi imposition’ and the delimitation rows.
In the meantime, Mr Balaji additionally stated his authorized crew would reply to questions on his shock reinstatement in September final yr, days after the Supreme Courtroom granted bail in a corruption case. A puzzled courtroom later requested, “What’s going on? We grant bail and the following day you change into a minister….”
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