Allegations have surfaced regarding a sharp rise in the number of “Manamagizh Mandrams” (recreation clubs) in Tamil Nadu, with claims that the licences are being used to facilitate private liquor sales and potentially divert revenue from the state exchequer.

The controversy follows information reportedly obtained under the Right to Information Act by Coimbatore-based senior advocate Loganathan. According to the data cited by him, the number of Manamagizh Mandrams in the state has increased from 62 prior to 2010 to over 800 at present, with a significant rise occurring after the DMK assumed office in 2021.

Loganathan alleged that nearly 600 outlets have been granted FL2 licences during the current regime and claimed these function effectively as private wine shops. He noted that when former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa introduced the state-run retail model in 2003, the stated policy objective was to prevent private parties from profiting from liquor sales and to route the revenue directly into the government treasury through TASMAC.

He further alleged that the current licensing pattern undermines that objective. According to him, the FL2 licence mechanism is being misused and large sums, reportedly over ₹1 crore per licence, are being collected under various heads, which he suggested could be linked to political funding. No official confirmation of this allegation has been provided.

The advocate also contended that the state may be losing substantial revenue. He claimed that under an open competitive model, each outlet could generate around ₹60 lakh annually for the government through licence and renewal fees, whereas the FL2 structure reportedly brings in only about ₹10 lakh per year per unit. Based on this calculation, he alleged that potential revenue worth hundreds of crores may have been diverted to private hands or to the ruling party. He called this a major corruption issue and said an investigation could reveal even bigger problems.

Questions have also been raised about regulatory compliance. It is alleged that some Manamagizh Mandrams may not fully meet registration requirements under the Societies Registration Act, which mandates affidavits from at least five members. It is also reported that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had earlier directed inspections, which, according to the complainant, have not been fully carried out. Government authorities have not publicly responded to these specific assertions.

Local residents in Coimbatore alleged that while TASMAC outlets operate under multiple restrictions, several recreation clubs function with fewer visible controls and extended operating patterns. Some residents further alleged that certain venues are offering promotional entry schemes, though these claims remain unverified. One local alleged, “These bars now run freely in the name of various styles, and particularly on Saturdays, college students are allegedly given free entry. Couples are offered free night access from 10 PM to 10 AM. Special arrangements are made where people can drink, dance, and engage in other activities. Such “11 to 11” bars have now become widespread, especially in Coimbatore, they are as common as tea shops.”

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The post How 62 ‘Manamagizh Mandram’ (Recreational Club) Permits Became 800 And Who’s Profiting? appeared first on The Commune.

A 13-year-old boy was found in an intoxicated condition in Singampunari in Sivaganga district, triggering shock among local residents.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the Singampunari area, where more than ten TASMAC liquor outlets are said to be operating. The minor was seen staggering on the road in a drunken state, unable to keep his eyes open, drawing the attention of passersby.

Police who arrived at the spot questioned the boy about his condition. During the interaction, the minor reportedly broke down and cried while still intoxicated, stating that he did not have parents.

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BJP leader Annamalai roasted DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi over the party’s, especially her pre-poll promise, to shut down TASMAC liquor outlets, accusing the ruling party of going back on its assurances after coming to power.

Responding to a question on the DMK’s earlier stance on prohibition, Annamalai said the promise had not been implemented despite the party forming the government.

In a sarcastic remark, he said the DMK had “executed it brilliantly,” before turning his criticism directly toward Kanimozhi.

“Kanimozhi should go see a good psychiatrist, must go see a good doctor. Show her these 15-year videos to Kanimozhi akka. If you’ve seen some clips from some films – they have a split personality – be someone in the morning and someone else at night – Remo, Ambi, Anniyan – that character changes every now and then. Kanimozhi akka has become that character.”

He continued his criticism by referring to the DMK’s election messaging and manifesto commitments.

“Before elections, ‘I’ll shut down TASMAC’; after elections, escape. Then, five years later, as the head of DMK’s election manifesto committee, if you ask for the 2021 white paper of promises, they’ll laugh and won’t talk about it. So, we don’t know how Kanimozhi speaks – is she speaking as Anniyan, Ambi, or Remo? She has become an amazing politician who speaks in changing ways, our dear akka Kanimozhi.”

The remarks come amid continuing political exchanges between the BJP and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over prohibition policy and the functioning of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, the state-run liquor retail network.

While the DMK had, during previous election campaigns, spoken about steps toward reducing liquor dependence and regulating sales, opposition parties including the BJP have repeatedly alleged that no substantive move has been made toward shutting TASMAC outlets.

DMK leaders have previously defended the government’s position, citing revenue dependence and regulatory challenges, though no immediate response was issued to Annamalai’s latest remarks at the time of publication.

அம்பி, ரெமோ, அந்நியன் என்று தேர்தலுக்கு முன்பு பின்பு மாறிவிடும் கனிமொழி – தலைவர் @annamalai_k pic.twitter.com/TqnHuMdx8k

— Krishna Kumar Murugan (@ikkmurugan) February 4, 2026

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The post “She Changes Character Every Now & Then. Is She Speaking As Ambi, Anniyan Or Remo?” Annamalai Roasts DMK MP Kanimozhi Over Pre-Poll Promise To Shut TASMAC appeared first on The Commune.

A woman property owner from Thiruvanmiyur has alleged prolonged harassment, administrative apathy, and illegal diversion of rental income in connection with a TASMAC liquor shop operating in her building, forcing her to stage a protest outside the premises.

Suganthi, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur, stated that in 2021 her husband had entered into a rental agreement to lease out the building, located adjacent to the Regional Transport Office (RTO), for a premium liquor shop. She said the lease was granted only after clear assurances were given that the premises would be used strictly for liquor sales and not for on-site consumption.

According to Suganthi, her husband passed away within seven to eight months of the agreement being signed. Thereafter, the situation at the premises deteriorated rapidly. She alleged that liquor consumers began drinking inside the premises, throwing bottles, engaging in fights, and using the surroundings as a public toilet while intoxicated, causing continuous disturbance and damage.

She said she had repeatedly approached the District Manager’s (DM) office over the last five years, requesting that the shop be vacated, but received no effective response. She alleged that employees of the liquor outlet refused to take responsibility for the behaviour occurring on the premises.

Suganthi further stated that she had lost faith in approaching the police, claiming that police personnel themselves consumed alcohol at the shop during visits by political leaders and VIPs. In view of this, she said she refrained from filing a formal police complaint and instead waited for the authorities to act.

According to her, the five-year rental agreement expired recently. After the expiry, the District Manager visited the site, during which she requested immediate vacating of the premises, citing pressure from the Highways Department to demolish the building and clear the land. Despite this, she alleged that the liquor shop continued to function for another five to six months beyond the agreement period.

She also alleged serious irregularities in the payment of rent. While the official rent for the premises was fixed at ₹1.5 lakh per month and authorised through official correspondence, she claimed that she was receiving only half the amount. The remaining portion, she alleged, was being paid to an unrelated individual named Saravanan, also referred to as “Thundu Saravanan”, whose role she said was never explained to her.

Suganthi stated that she became aware of the actual rent amount and the alleged diversion of funds only through her lawyer, nearly a year after her husband’s death. She claimed that even officials at the DM’s office failed to clarify why a third party was receiving a portion of the rent for a property owned solely by her family.

The situation worsened further following a major fire accident at the building earlier this week, she said. According to her, the fire destroyed old electrical wiring in a portion of the premises, leaving her unable to provide electricity to tenants or carry out rewiring due to financial constraints. She added that rewiring a building slated for demolition was impractical and unaffordable.

Suganthi said she was now facing a livelihood crisis and was unable to respond to the concerns of other tenants occupying the building. She asserted that closure of the liquor shop was the only way forward and that she had been compelled to spend money from her own pocket to lay rubble and sand at the entrance and stage a sit-in protest.

She alleged that the government’s inaction over several years had pushed her to the brink, forcing her to protest publicly at the entrance of her own property.

வாடகை ஒப்பந்தம் முடிந்தும் டாஸ்மாக் கடையை காலி செய்யாத உரிமையாளர்கள்.. ஸ்டேஷன்ல எந்த Complaint-ம் பண்ணாம 5 வருஷமா பொறுமையா காத்துட்டு இருக்கேன்.. டாஸ்மாக் கடையை காலி பண்ண சொன்னாலும் கேட்கல.. எனக்கு பாதி வாடகை பணம் தான் வருது.. மீதி பணம் இன்னொருத்தருக்கு போகுது.. அது ஏன் போகுதுனு… pic.twitter.com/p6ALpWX4kZ

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) January 23, 2026

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The post Dravidian Model Tamil Nadu: Widow Forced To Protest Outside Her Own Property As TASMAC Overstays, Drunkards Ruin, Rent Vanishes, And State Looks Away appeared first on The Commune.

A drunken man allegedly killed a cat in a brutal act at a TASMAC bar on the Andipatti–Theppapatti Road, within the limits of the Rajathani police station, triggering outrage and leading to police action.

According to the police, the incident occurred when a group of friends were consuming liquor at the bar. One of them, identified as Kannan of South Mooanandipatti, allegedly caught a cat that had wandered into the premises and repeatedly flung it against a wall. Despite warnings from his friends, he allegedly picked up the animal again as it writhed in pain and hurled it onto the floor, killing it on the spot.

When a bar employee, Chandrasekaran, questioned the act, he was allegedly assaulted by the group. Another worker, Chellapandi, who attempted to intervene and pacify them, was also beaten up. Both injured employees were admitted to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Based on a complaint lodged by Chandrasekaran, the Rajathani police arrested one Naveen in connection with the incident and said efforts were under way to trace and arrest the remaining accused. Further investigation is in progress.

 

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Source: The Hindu 

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The post Dravidian Model Tamil Nadu: Drunk Man Kills Cat At TASMAC Bar In Theni; Assaults Two Workers appeared first on The Commune.

Reports have emerged from Coimbatore suggesting that expired and ageing liquor stock has been redistributed to TASMAC retail outlets in the region as demand rises ahead of the Pongal festival, triggering alarm among employees’ unions and raising questions over consumer safety.

According to TASMAC trade union sources, the state-run liquor retailer has begun moving nearly 20,000 cases of old liquor that had been lying in warehouses for several years. The total value of the stock being dispatched since 6 January 2026 was estimated at ₹16 crore.

Union representatives said around 15,000 cases were being supplied to 159 outlets in Coimbatore North district, while another 50,000 cases were being routed to 48 outlets in Coimbatore South district. Some of the liquor reportedly dated back to 2018, raising concerns that expired or deteriorated products were being pushed onto shelves during the peak festival season.

Employees’ unions, including the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), which is affiliated to the DMK, were said to have raised objections with the TASMAC administration and demanded that the old stock be destroyed instead of being sold. Union sources said the liquor being distributed carried a single barcode per case, rather than individual bottle-level barcodes, which they said deviated from standard practice and made tracking difficult.

Union representatives said that after workers threatened to approach the District Collector, General Manager (Retail Vending) T Ramadurai Murugan travelled to Coimbatore on Saturday, 10 January 2026, and held an urgent meeting with union leaders. Despite the objections, staff were reportedly instructed to ensure the stock was sold before Pongal.

An LPF representative told TNIE the administration should avoid sending ageing liquor to outlets, warning that any adverse impact on consumers during an election year could have serious consequences.

Another union official explained that the problem appeared to stem from the rollout of TASMAC’s ‘end-to-end’ computerisation system, which was implemented across Tamil Nadu in April 2025 to track liquor from production to sale. He said that during the system’s implementation in Coimbatore, non-aggregated stock from other districts that could not be scanned was transferred to the Coimbatore North and South warehouses through Inter-Depot Transfer (IDT).

He said that similar liquor brands from Coimbatore retail outlets were later returned to warehouses through Customer Return Notes (CRN), resulting in liquor worth around ₹16 crore accumulating in godowns. He added that the colour of many of the bottles had changed and appeared pale due to long-term storage, raising fears about their quality and safety if sold.

However, Prohibition and Excise Minister S Muthusamy told The New Indian Express that he was not aware of any redistribution of old stock. He said old liquor should not be sent to retail outlets and added that he would look into the matter.

Source: The New Indian Express

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The post ₹16 Crore Worth Of Expired Liquor Allegedly Sent To Be Sold At Coimbatore TASMAC Outlets Ahead Of Pongal appeared first on The Commune.

On 13 November 2025, the Madras High Court directed local authorities to complete, within eight weeks, the ongoing inquiry into the presence of a TASMAC liquor shop and bar operating on land belonging to Vedaranyeswarar Temple in Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam district, as claimed by the petitioner.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan passed the order while disposing of the petition filed by R.S. Rajendran. The petitioner sought the removal of TASMAC Shop No. 5633, located on Survey No. 175/283 in Mela Theru, citing inconvenience to nearby school students, staff, and residents.

Rajendran argued that the liquor shop’s presence was disrupting public peace and welfare, and he formally represented his concerns to authorities on 27 September 2025.

The bench observed that authorities had initiated action and issued summons in response. Since the matter was under active consideration, it declined to keep the writ petition pending.

“An inquiry has been initiated and is expected to conclude within a reasonable time,” the bench observed. Accordingly, it ordered the process to be completed “within eight weeks” and disposed of the case. There was no order as to costs.

The case also highlights growing concerns in Tamil Nadu over liquor outlets operating near schools, religious places, and residential areas.

(Source: CaseMine)

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The post Dravidian Model: TASMAC Shop Allegedly Operating On Temple Land In Vedaranyam; Madras High Court Directs Inquiry appeared first on The Commune.

The District Consumer Redressal Commission (North) has directed a Tasmac salesman in Madhavaram to pay a penalty for charging ₹10 above the maximum retail price (MRP) on a liquor bottle.

The order came after G. Devarajan, a resident of Sembiam, filed a complaint stating that the salesman charged him ₹250 for a bottle priced at ₹240 and failed to issue a bill or return the excess amount. Devarajan alleged that such overcharging was a common practice in several TASMAC outlets, where the extra money collected was allegedly pocketed by staff and shared with higher officials. He sought a refund of ₹10 and compensation of ₹1 lakh for mental agony and unfair trade practice.

The commission, comprising President D. Gopinath and members Kavitha Kannan and V. Ramamurthy, recorded that notice had been duly served to the Managing Director of Tasmac and the concerned salesman, but neither appeared before the forum. As a result, the case proceeded ex parte.

Devarajan, who appeared in person, submitted evidence including the official Tasmac MRP list, a debit card slip showing the payment, and a photograph of the liquor bottle in question.

After reviewing the material, the commission held that there was no direct liability on the Tasmac Managing Director, observing that the act of overcharging was attributable solely to the individual salesman. The order stated that while Tasmac was the licensed retailing authority, the unfair trade practice of collecting excess money was a personal act of the salesman.

Citing provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the commission ruled that charging more than the MRP constituted an unfair trade practice under Section 2(47), as it involved misleading pricing and consumer exploitation.

However, the bench reduced the compensation amount sought by the complainant. In its order dated September 25, the commission directed the salesman to pay ₹5,000 to Devarajan, inclusive of the ₹10 excess charge, compensation for mental agony, and litigation costs.

(Source: Times of India)

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The second state conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay was held in Parapathi, Madurai, amid much fanfare and heavy mobilisation of cadres. Thousands of vehicles arrived from across Tamil Nadu to the venue, and local liquor shops saw an unusual rush linked directly to the event.

Reporters on the ground noted that while TVK leader Vijay has consistently spoken against liquor consumption, his own cadres were spotted in large numbers at TASMAC outlets in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts. In Aviyur village near Virudhunagar, more than 50 youths wearing T-shirts and flags associated with Vijay’s films and the TVK party were seen queuing outside a government-run liquor shop for over an hour.

Officials had initially announced a one-day closure of TASMAC outlets in Madurai and Virudhunagar for the day of the TVK conference, but the order was later withdrawn. As a result, multiple outlets witnessed surging crowds of TVK volunteers both before and after the event.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of cadres standing in long lines with party-coloured attire, waiting to purchase liquor at the very time the conference was getting underway. Reporters said the images came as an embarrassment to TVK administrators, who had projected the event as a moral and political awakening under Vijay’s leadership.

The episode immediately drew comparisons to the behaviour of DMK “oopi” cadres, who are often criticised for crowding TASMAC shops during party events and public holidays. Observers pointed out that despite Vijay’s public opposition to “temporary pleasures”, his cadres appeared to have followed the same path, undermining the image TVK has tried to build as a reformist force in Tamil Nadu politics.

The contrasting reality, a leader denouncing liquor while volunteers flaunted loyalty at TASMAC counters has left many questioning whether TVK is any different from the established Dravidian outfits it claims to challenge.

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While Kollywood actor and Dravidianist sympathiser Karthi showered praise on Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, claiming government schools were thriving under his stewardship, the reality on the ground tells a very different story.

In a disturbing incident highlighting concerns over substance abuse among youth, a teacher at a government school in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, was assaulted by students who were allegedly intoxicated.

The incident took place at S.R. Government Higher Secondary School in Tiruthangal. Four Class 12 students arrived late to school, and they had strong smell of alcohol. When teacher Chandramoorthy questioned them about it, the students denied being under the influence. However, as he attempted to escort them to the headmaster’s office for further inquiry, the situation turned violent. One of the students attacked him with a bottle, causing a severe head injury.

The teacher was immediately rushed to the government hospital for treatment. Following the assault, local police have arrested the students involved and an investigation is underway.

This shocking event has sparked renewed criticism of the state-run TASMAC liquor outlets, which many believe are contributing to rising alcohol abuse among school-aged youth.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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