PMK slapped with over Rs. 20 cr. bill for revenue loss

Holding the PMK responsible for the drop in sale of liquor during the agitations organised by the party between April 30 and May 15, the State government has claimed over Rs. 20 crore as compensation from the party.

The claim is under provisions of a State law that allows recovery of compensation for any damage or loss caused to property during an agitation by a political party or group.

Sale of liquor is major source of revenue for the Tamil Nadu government and it generated Rs. 21,680 crore in 2012-13. Liquor sale registered a growth of 19.91 per cent over previous year.

PMK leader S. Ramdoss has been advocating total prohibition in Tamil Nadu and now his party president G.K. Mani has been asked to pay compensation for the loss of liquor sale.

The matter related to drop in liquor sold by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) came up for hearing before T.S. Sridhar, Commissioner of Revenue Administration, on Tuesday.

He posted it to August 19 for further hearing.

Hearing on a separate claim related to loss suffered by transport corporations was adjourned to August 13.

The government case is that sale of liquor in 12 districts came down in the wake of the arrest of Dr. Ramadoss, his son Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK president G.K. Mani and others and the violence that ensued.

“Employees of TASMAC shops could not open shops on time and had to down shutters by 6 p.m. Transport was affected and people did not come out of their house to buy essential commodities, owing to tension and violent incidents such as damage to public property. This reduced customers at TASMAC shops. Customers also temporarily stopped buying liquor bottles because of attacks on TASMAC shops,” said the senior regional manager of TASMAC in Salem district. Similar petitions were filed in respect of other districts too.

Officials said the untoward incidents that took place after the arrest of Dr. Ramdoss and others affected the sale of liquor and wanted the Commissioner of Revenue Administration to get compensation from the PMK and Vanniyar Sangam.

Advocate K. Balu, representing the PMK, wanted the government to furnish colour photos and legible documents as he was not able to make out anything properly from the photos and documents given to him.

He also filed a petition seeking to drop Dr. Ramadoss from all the cases.

Mr. Sridhar said he would deliver his order soon.