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Madras High Court Orders CBI Probe in Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy Case

The Madras High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed 67 lives due to the consumption of illicit arrack laced with methanol. The court directed the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) to hand over all case files to the CBI and cooperate fully with the central agency.


The bench comprising Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice P.B. Balaji issued the directive while hearing petitions demanding a CBI investigation. The petitioners alleged systemic failures by Tamil Nadu’s police and revenue authorities in curbing the sale and consumption of spurious liquor. Highlighting the recurrence of such incidents, they argued that public confidence in state agencies had eroded.


The petitioners contended that transferring officials, including the District Collector and the Commissioner of Police, demonstrated administrative lapses. They further emphasized that methanol sourced from Pondicherry introduced inter-state complexities warranting a CBI inquiry.


The Advocate General (AG) opposed the move, asserting that the state had taken stringent measures to address the issue. He informed the court that the investigation had been transferred to the CB-CID, which had arrested 24 individuals and was prepared to file a charge sheet. A one-man commission, led by Justice (Retd) B. Gokuldas, had also been established to provide recommendations.


The AG argued that transferring the case to the CBI at this stage would be counterproductive, as the agency would have to restart the investigation. The CB-CID had traced the methanol source and was awaiting toxicology reports before finalizing the charge sheet.


The court, however, noted the public’s lack of trust in the state machinery and underscored the necessity of an impartial probe by the CBI. It directed the central agency to expedite the investigation.


Case Details:

IS Inbadurai v. The Chief Secretary and Others (WP 16519 of 2024)





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