Chennai police detained top BJP leaders Tamilisai Soundararajan and K Annamalai today as they led a protest against an alleged ₹1,000 crore liquor scam linked to the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). The protest, which the police claim had no prior permission, turned into a political flashpoint between the BJP and the ruling DMK. Videos showed BJP leaders being forcibly taken into police custody, with Soundararajan stating that she was arrested from her home. Annamalai accused the DMK government of suppressing democratic protests out of fear, questioning what they would do if the BJP launched an unannounced agitation. The BJP maintains that the DMK’s actions highlight their nervousness over the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the alleged scam.
The ED recently conducted raids on several corporate offices of state distilleries, uncovering what it described as “incriminating” data related to bar license tenders and financial irregularities. Investigators allege that distillers manipulated expenses and created fake purchase records to siphon off funds. AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami has also attacked the DMK, claiming the scam could be as large as ₹40,000 crore. Tamil Nadu Excise Minister Senthil Balaji, whose associates were among those raided, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, arguing that the DMK government had no role in the alleged irregularities. He accused the BJP of using central agencies like the ED to target opposition parties, especially in states resisting the imposition of Hindi and changes in constituency delimitation.
The protest comes amid rising political tensions between the BJP and DMK, with accusations of corruption fueling a broader ideological battle. BJP leaders claim the liquor scam is just one example of DMK’s misgovernance, while the DMK continues to accuse the central government of using law enforcement as a political weapon. With the general elections approaching, the issue is expected to intensify, further shaping the political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
