Supreme Court: Upheld the Madras High Court order directing a CBI inquiry into the Kallakurichi liquor scandal and dismissed the appeal of the Tamil Nadu government against the order

The Supreme Court has taken a big decision on the Kallakurichi liquor tragedy. The court has upheld the order of the Madras High Court directing a CBI inquiry into the liquor scandal. Along with this, the SC has rejected the appeal of the Tamil Nadu government against the High Court order of November 21, which is a big setback for the government. After this decision of the SC, now the CBI will investigate the case.

The Madras High Court on November 20 ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation of the Kallakurichi liquor tragedy. In which 68 people lost their lives in Tamil Nadu during June and July. Despite the death of so many people, the High Court ordered a CBI inquiry after the police failed to take strict action.

The bench of Judge D Krishnakumar and Judge PB Balaji had pronounced the order on the petition of AIADMK Legal Cell Secretary IS Inbadurai, Advocates Forum for Social Justice President K. Balu and another advocate. The petitioners had requested a CBI inquiry into the poisonous liquor case. The petitioners had argued that the liquor tragedy has become a recurring issue in Tamil Nadu and the previous CB-CID investigation has failed to act as an adequate deterrent.

The bench had directed the CBI to investigate all the three cases registered in this regard. During this, the bench had said that the Tamil Nadu Police would cooperate with the CBI. Inbadurai had requested in his petition that a CBI inquiry be conducted into the sale of poisonous liquor by the accused in Kallakurichi district on June 19. After which the court had entrusted the investigation to the CBI.

The court had expressed concern over how the sale of fake liquor could take place under the eyes of local officials, saying that this operation takes place under the full supervision of the police, who appear to turn a blind eye to it. Judge Balaji insisted that it was necessary to hand over the investigation from the CB-CID to the CBI to ensure a thorough and fair probe. He accused the police of “turning a blind eye” to the illicit liquor trade.