Activist alerts cops about illegal liquor sale, threatened

Hours after a social activist complained to the police control room against illegal sale of liquor before the start of business hours in the morning at Tasmac bar outlets in Puzhal, he received several calls from the bar manager, who claimed to be an AIAMDK functionary, and threatened him.

After receiving the threat calls, the activist, G Devarajan from Sembium, approached the city police Commissioner with a complaint. He suspects it was the police officers who passed on his details to the bar manager.

Around 8.15 am on Sunday, Devarajan received a call from a man, who identified himself as Karuna belonging to the ruling AIADMK, and running bar attached to a Tasmac retail outlet. The man wanted to know Devarajan’s residential address and questioned him why he complained to the police control room. He spoke in a threatening tone and warned the activist not to interfere in his business.

“What is your problem? We have got battery of lawyers working for us. Come, we will have a talk. Why are you calling 100 and informing the police? We can sort it out. Bars are functioning from morning across Tamil Nadu,” the AIADMK man told Devarajan.

Tasmac outlets can function only from 12 noon to 10 pm. On Saturday morning, Devarajan had informed the police control room regarding the illegal functioning of bars in areas like Lakshmipuram and Vinayagapuram in Puzhal police station limit as early as 7 am.

“The control room assured me that action would be taken. However, I saw the bars functioning on Sunday morning as well, and called the control room again to inform them that nothing has changed.

“Then, a couple of policemen arrived in a patrol vehicle, spoke to those working there and left. Later, the officers in the control room claimed that the bar has been closed. But, it was very much functioning,” Devarajan told DT Next on Monday after lodging a complaint at the police Commissioner’s office.

Devarajan has demanded action against both the police personnel who leaked his details, and against the man who threatened him. When contacted, a senior police officer said that they were probing the matter.