2025 TASMAC scam
{{Short description|Financial scam in India}}
The 2025 TASMAC scam is an alleged financial scandal involving Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor company, TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation).
Overview
On 13 March 2025, TASMAC came under intense scrutiny following allegations of large-scale corruption. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that a network involving politicians, bureaucrats, and distillery owners siphoned off more than {{INRConvert|1000|c}} through manipulated tenders, inflated expenses, and illegal transactions.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-17 |title=Decoding TASMAC scam, the Rs 1000 crore corruption scandal that has rocked Tamil Nadu politics |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/tasmac-scam-explained-tamil-nadu-liquor-scandal-1.10430972 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Ranjani |first=Lalitha |date=2025-03-13 |title=Tamil Nadu Today {{!}} ED alleges ₹1000-crore scam in TASMAC |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/here-are-the-big-stories-from-tamil-nadu-today/article69326472.ece |access-date=2025-03-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} Also, irregularities were found in transport and bar license tenders, which involved fake documentation and favoritism.{{Cite news |last=Chanrdababu |first=Divya |date=14 March 2025 |title=‘Unaccounted’ cash deals worth ₹1,000 cr in TASMAC, says ED |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/unaccounted-cash-deals-worth-1-000-cr-in-tasmac-says-ed-101741892254028.html |access-date=17 March 2025 |work=Hindustan Times}}
According to V. Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu Excise Minister; the ED is used by the Central Government to target rival parties and leaders, particularly before an election, with Tamil Nadu set to hold one next year. He also emphasized that the raids were conducted as a pressure tactic amid the ongoing battle between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam vs. Bharatiya Janata Party battle over "Hindi imposition" and "delimitation."{{Cite web |last=Daniel Stalin |first=J Sam |title='Due To Hindi Row, Delimitation...': Tamil Minister On Liquor Corruption Claims |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-budget-news-tasmac-liquor-corruption-claim-v-senthil-balaji-responds-due-to-hindi-row-delimitation-tamil-minister-on-liquor-corruption-clai-7922257 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}
Investigation
Distillery companies such as SNJ, Kals, Accord, SAIFL, and Shiva Distillery—along with bottling entities such as Devi Bottles, Crystal Bottles, and GLR Holding—colluded with senior government officials to secure undue favors, leading to large-scale financial fraud.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Divyesh |date=2025-03-13 |title=ED unearths unaccounted cash deals in Rs 1,000-crore Tamil Nadu liquor 'scam' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ed-alleged-tasmac-liquor-scam-black-money-racket-unaccounted-cash-deals-2693450-2025-03-13 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Madhuparna |editor-last=Jain |editor-first=Karishma |title=Rs 1,000-Crore TASMAC Scam Rocks Tamil Nadu, DMK Minister Under Lens |url=https://www.news18.com/india/rs-1000-crore-tasmac-scam-rocks-tamil-nadu-dmk-minister-under-lens-9261522.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=News18 |language=en}}