Allegations of large-scale illegal liquor sales operating round-the-clock from residential houses have surfaced in the Pachapatti area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Kitchipalayam Police Station, in Salem raising serious concerns over enforcement and public safety.
Pachapatti, located along a national highway within Salem city limits, does not have any government-run liquor outlets. However, reports indicate that liquor is being illegally stocked inside houses and sold at inflated prices. According to information received by News Tamil 24×7 channel, liquor sales have been taking place in the area from early morning onwards.
Residents allege that not only liquor sold by the Tamil Nadu government but also liquor sourced from other states is being sold in the locality. They further claim that adulterated liquor is widely available, posing a serious health risk. When the News Tamil 24×7 media team visited the area to verify the complaints, they reportedly found several people consuming alcohol during working hours, with frequent arguments breaking out among residents.
The alleged illegal sale is said to closely resemble operations of a TASMAC outlet. Liquor bottles are reportedly stored and sold from inside houses, including from cupboards and refrigerators. While legally sold government liquor carries official label stickers, many bottles found in the area allegedly lacked such labels and were suspected to be adulterated.
According to residents, all varieties of liquor are available on demand, including high-end brands and beers not usually available in government outlets. A quarter bottle is reportedly sold at prices ranging from ₹200 to ₹250. Large consignments of liquor and beer are allegedly procured in bulk from nearby areas and unloaded for sale in a manner similar to TASMAC supply operations.
Residents further claim that illegal liquor sales continue uninterrupted, including on government holidays and during temple festivals. During the media team’s visit, it was observed that young men, elderly persons, and even daily wage labourers were spending time and money consuming alcohol instead of going to work.
Tensions escalated while the media team was collecting information, when relatives of the alleged liquor sellers reportedly approached them in a threatening manner. The journalists alleged that they were intimidated, with some individuals wielding sickles, and warned against reporting the issue.
Locals also alleged that illegal liquor sales are not confined to Pachapatti alone but are taking place at more than 20 locations in surrounding areas. Despite informing the police and alerting them to the media team’s presence, residents claim that no police personnel arrived at the spot for over 30 minutes to conduct any inspection or inquiry.
As intimidation of the media team reportedly continued, residents demanded immediate intervention by the Salem City Police Commissioner and senior police officials, calling for decisive action against the alleged illegal liquor outlets and accountability for what they describe as prolonged inaction by the local police.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
