Bribe to run illegal bars case: DVAC raids 20 premises of tainted officials

DSP R Subburaju’s house in Palavakkam, former ADSP (PEW, Kancheepuram) A Manikkavelu’s house at the quarters for Assistant Commissioners in Mylapore, Madhuranthagam PEW inspector A Arokkiaraj’s house in Chidambaram, PEW station at Madhuranthagam, office of former district manager (Tasmac) Iyyavu in Kancheepuram and his house in Mettur were among the places that were raided on Saturday, said DVAC sources.

DVAC sleuths from Kancheepuram, Chennai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai units visited the houses and offices of the accused to carry out the raid around the same time. In the raid gold, cash, fixed deposit receipts and several other crucial documents are said to have been seized. The search continued beyond sunset at several premises.

The others booked by DVAC in this case are T Kannan, former Tiruporur inspector; A Ahamed Ullah, former Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Kancheepuram district; M Balakrishnan, former Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Kancheepuram; VA Ravichandran, DSP (PEW), Kancheepuram; M Pandi, former Kelambakkam inspector and M Chiranjeevi, former Mamallapuram inspector.

It may be recalled that several officers in the accused list were transferred after Nellaiyappan of Tiruporur committed suicide after accusing the officers of demanding huge bribe to run bars illegally.

‘Only 5 out of 106 bars legal’

In the investigation carried out by DVAC, it has come to light that only five out of 106 bars functioning under the control of district manager, Tasmac, Kancheepuram South, were licensed. This meant that 101 other bars were allowed to be run illegally after receiving bribes in huge sums.

“Chiranjeevi collected bribe from illegal bar owners between May 2018 and February 2019 and gave it to Manikkavelu and Ravichandran. They also doubled the bribe amount in the period and harassed the bar owners to pay the sum on time every month. Manikkavelu recommended Chiranjeevi to hold additional charge of PEW units in Kancheepuram to promptly collect the bribes for himself and to Manikkavelu,” said DVAC sources. Similarly, Arokkiaraj who held additional charge of PEW Mamallapuram allegedly allowed illegal bars to sell other State liquor.

Former Tiruporur inspector Kannan forced Nellaiyappan to arrange a house for rent and made him pay the advance money as well as for the furniture, which pushed him to the limits to end his life, said DVAC sources after investigation. All 10 accused officers fixed their bribe from every bar and received it promptly every month.