Crackdown on illegal bars in Chennai, Kanchi

CHENNAI: Policemen from the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) and officials of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) conducted massive raids on unlicensed bars attached to TASMAC shops in Chennai and its neighbouring areas. This follows a report in the Express that pointed out that these illegal bars caused revenue loss to the government to the tune of Rs 10 crore annually.TASMAC officials and PEW policemen raided about 100 bars in the city and the adjoining Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. According to sources, the sleuths checked the status of bars functioning in Ambattur, Gummidipoondi, Poonamallee, Red Hills and several other pockets around the city. “We had inspected maintenance of hygiene in the bars. The issue of license also came under the scrutiny,” a TASMAC official told Express.The state-owned Marketing Corporation had identified 76 bars in Tiruvallur district as illegal and had sent a report to the PEW seeking stern act against the miscreants.A senior police official said that 17 flying squads comprising TASMAC personnel and PEW sleuths carried out surprise checks in bars across the city and its suburbs. “We also checked whether liquor bottles were sold in the bars. However, no case has been booked against the violators since the raids continued till late in the evening,” the official added.In a few areas, some of the illegal bars reportedly remained closed till afternoon in the light of raids but reopened in the evening to carry out business.When contacted, TASMAC managing director T Soundiah said that the drive against illegal bars would continue as was done in the past. Meanwhile, P S Soundarapandian, state president, TASMAC Employees Union (AITUC), has sought similar crackdown against the other illegal bars across Tamil Nadu.