Tamilisai Soundararajan Arrested Prior to BJP Protest on TASMAC Scandal in Tamil Nadu
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Synopsis
Tamil Nadu Police apprehended senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan ahead of her protest against the TASMAC scam. The BJP is planning statewide protests following revelations of a financial scandal involving TASMAC, with accusations directed at the ruling DMK government.
Key Takeaways
- Tamilisai Soundararajan was detained prior to a protest.
- The BJP targets the TASMAC scam amid claims of financial misconduct.
- The ED uncovered irregularities totaling nearly Rs 1,000 crore.
- Protests are planned across Tamil Nadu.
- Accusations against the DMK regarding political misuse of TASMAC funds.
Chennai, March 17 (NationPress) The police in Tamil Nadu took senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan into custody on Monday just before her scheduled protest regarding the alleged multi-crore TASMAC scam.
Soundararajan, who previously served as the Governor of Telangana and Puducherry, was apprehended at her home amidst a significant police presence.
As she was being led away, she remarked to reporters, “They are detaining me from my home. I will not go alone; I want everyone to accompany me.”
The Tamil Nadu BJP had declared statewide protests on March 17, targeting the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC)—the government-operated liquor retail monopoly—over suspected financial misconduct.
Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered financial irregularities in TASMAC amounting to nearly Rs 1,000 crore, leading BJP’s K. Annamalai to liken it to liquor scandals in Delhi and Chhattisgarh.
He labeled the scam as “unprecedented” and asserted that its magnitude could surpass initial estimates. Annamalai announced that the BJP intends to blockade the TASMAC headquarters in Egmore, Chennai, and stage comparable demonstrations outside TASMAC outlets statewide.
He accused the ruling DMK government of attempting to distract the public by emphasizing unrelated issues, such as the recent focus on the Indian currency symbol.
Senior BJP figure H. Raja supported these claims, indicating that while the ED had identified a Rs 1,000 crore scam, the actual misappropriation might reach Rs 2 lakh crore.
He called for a comprehensive investigation into this matter and criticized the recently unveiled Tamil Nadu state budget, labeling it merely the DMK’s election manifesto for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.
The BJP has consistently accused the DMK of exploiting TASMAC revenues for political purposes. Annamalai referenced the 2023 arrest of Senthilbalaji, the Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise, by the ED.
He noted that after spending a year in custody, Senthil Balaji was reinstated in the same ministerial role, which Annamalai claimed exemplified the DMK’s reliance on TASMAC funds.
With the detention of Tamilisai Soundararajan and the BJP’s assertive position on the issue, the political contention surrounding the TASMAC scam is anticipated to intensify in the forthcoming days.
