The News Minute Shabbir Ahmed’s ground report on the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy makes no mention of DMK Minister Gingee Masthan, or the DMK member and illicit liquor kingpin Maroor Raja, who were alleged to be involved in the tragedy but instead kept looking for scapegoats in lower-level administration.
The death toll from the consumption of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu has risen to 24. The alleged incident occurred in Ekkiyarkuppam, a small fishing hamlet in the Villupuram district. A significant number of fatalities were also reported in Sithamur, Chengalpattu district. Amaran, who is thought to be the main suspect in the case, was apprehended by police. Based on his confession, the police were looking for Muthu, a bootlegger who was absconding. However, On May 16, he was arrested near Tindivanam based on his mobile location. According to reports, he was apprehended by police while on his way to surrender before the court.
He confessed to the police that he receives supplies from Raja alias ‘Maroor’ Raja, the husband of DMK 20th ward councilor Ramya, who is known for his association with DMK minister Masthan. Following his confession, Maroor Raja was arrested and charged with Goonda Act. More information on the DMK’s involvement in the Hooch tragedy can be found here.
The involvement of DMK councilor Maroor Raja and DMK minister Senji Masthan in the illegal Hooch network was widely reported in major news outlets such as Vikatan, Thanthi, and a few others. However, The News Minute’s Shabbir Ahmed, who recently posted a video claiming to be a ground report on the hooch tragedy, not once mentioned DMK Minister Masthan or the DMK councilor husband Maroor Raja, who is considered a kingpin in the hooch network.
No mention was also made about Amavasai, an accused in this hooch deaths tragedy who is said to be the brother of Sithamur DMK ward councillor Nagappan. Amavasai has been named in the FIR registered by the Tamil Nadu police but was also awarded ₹50,000 compensation. He pretended to have consumed poisonous liquor and got himself admitted fearing arrest.
Throughout the interview, TNMurasoli’s oops TNM’s Shabbir Ahmed blamed the lower level police officers and revenue officials for the hooch tragedy, and in some instances, he questioned the action taken by the DMK government against officials who colluded with criminals.
He mentioned the involvement of DMK functionaries in the hooch tragedy only once during the interview. However, he purposefully avoided naming them. He also attempted to downplay the role of DMK functionaries in the tragedy by claiming that both the ruling and opposition parties are involved. He said, “While we claim that illicit liquor was sold with the assistance of the police, we cannot deny the political involvement in the tragedy. Political parties supported illegal liquor sellers. There are ‘some’ from the ruling party and ‘many’ from the opposition party involved. What action has been taken against them?”
Though a person interviewed by Shabbir stated that only low-level functionaries of political parties such as circle secretaries bribe police officers, he never inquired about DMK functionary Maroor Raja’s involvement. That person further added that illicit liquor sales increased drastically in the last two years after DMK came to power. He also mentioned Edappadi Palanisamy’s speech in the Tamil Nadu assembly and questioned the inaction of the DMK government.
He also blamed the revenue administration and the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) for the tragedy. He stated that the PEW collaborated with criminals and that illegal spirits sales occur throughout Tamil Nadu, not just in Vizhupuram and surrounding areas.
Throughout the interview, he never mentioned DMK Minister Senji Masthaan’s role in saving hooch network kingpin Maroor Raja.
The alleged ground report by TNM begs the following questions:
1) Is TNM trying to bury the role of higher ups in the DMK by shifting blame on lower level police and district officials and making them scapegoats?
2) Is Shabbir attempting to save Minister Masthan because they belong to the same religion?
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