Chennai : The Madras High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 68 lives. The incident occurred on June 18 in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, where a batch of methanol-laced liquor claimed the lives of dozens of people, primarily from disadvantaged communities.
A division bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices D. Krishnakumar and P.B. Balaji, issued the order on Wednesday, directing the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) to transfer the case to the central agency for a thorough inquiry. The bench passed the order during the hearing of a set of writ petitions filed by several political leaders, including I.S. Inbadurai (AIADMK), K. Balu (PMK), B. Parthasarathy (DMDK), and A. Mohan Dass (BJP).
The petitioners argued that hooch tragedies had become a recurrent issue in Tamil Nadu, and previous investigations by the CB-CID had failed to deter such incidents. The petitioners also emphasized the need for a detailed and impartial investigation by the CBI.
The bench observed that the scale of the tragedy, which claimed more than 60 lives, warranted a comprehensive probe by the central agency. Justice Balaji remarked that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for society to recognize the dangerous consequences of alcohol abuse, particularly in impoverished communities.
Criticizing the local police, the court noted that the sale of methanol-laced hooch appeared to have taken place right under their nose, but they chose to turn a blind eye to the illegal activity. The bench expressed concerns about the unchecked sale of spurious liquor in the region, which contributed to the devastating deaths.
The tragic deaths occurred when residents of Karunapuram, mostly Dalits and daily wage laborers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, consumed the toxic liquor sold by a local bootlegger, Govindaraj, alias Kannukutty. The victims were unaware that the liquor was contaminated with methanol, which led to their deaths.
In response to the tragedy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased. Additionally, the state government promised to cover the education and hostel expenses of children who lost their parents in the incident. A sum of Rs 5 lakh was also deposited into the accounts of children who lost both parents.
The court’s decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI underscores the seriousness of the tragedy and the need for accountability in preventing such incidents in the future.