Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Supreme Court clears decks for CBI probe

Supreme Court dismisses Tamil Nadu government's appeal for CBI probe into Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, sparking opposition criticism.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) dismissed the Special Leave Petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras High Court judgement ordering Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the illicit liquor deaths in Kallakurichi district.

On November 20, the Madras High Court had ordered a CBI probe into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed 68 lives in June and July this year. The court passed the orders after expressing disappointment over the Tamil Nadu government having failed to take stern action against the police and other officials concerned, despite the loss of so many lives.

Expressing deep anguish over non-initiation of severe action against officials who were either hand in glove with the sellers of spurious liquor or had miserably failed to prevent the sale happening right under their nose, the Division Bench comprising Justices D. Krishnakumar and P.B. Balaji had said: “All these aspects cumulatively make this court think that there may not be a fair and impartial investigation by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).”

Days later, Tamil Nadu government appealed against the direction of the Madras High Court in the apex court. Tamil Nadu Minister for Law S. Regupathy had said the High Court would delay the case. However, opposition parties flayed the move.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had said his party would fight in the Supreme Court to ensure justice to those who were affected in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.