The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Midas Golden Distilleries moves court

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Saturday, Sep 23, 2006
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Midas Golden Distilleries moves court

Special Correspondent

Seeks direction to TASMAC to purchase liquor from them

CHENNAI: Midas Golden Distilleries Private Limited has moved the Madras High Court to issue a direction to TASMAC to purchase a specified quantity of liquor from them and to allot the company additional rectified spirit to the unit.

Justice K. Mohanram, before whom the two writ petitions filed by company director M.R.P. Eravanan came up for hearing, asked the government advocate to get instructions. He then adjourned the matter to Tuesday.

The petitioner, seeking to dispel an "illusion or misconception" that Midas enjoyed political patronage, said that it was a business venture and had no political clout or connection whatsoever with any political personality or party.

He said the non-allocation of sufficient quantity of rectified spirit had resulted in curtailing the manufacture of various brands of liquors produced by the Midas.

He said that there were "systematic and calculated" attempts to reduce the output of the company owing to "certain external political dictations" to the authorities.

In this regard, A.L. Somayaji, senior counsel for the petitioner, said that since May 2006 the TASMAC had reduced its indent to Midas, whereas other rival brands had been asked to produce beyond their capacity.

In the second petition, Mr. Eravanan said the Prohibition and Excise Department had not released the additional allotment of rectified spirit and special spirit demanded by Midas on April 18, July 5 and June 21, 2006.

He sought the allotment of over 80 lakh litres of rectified spirit and over 1 lakh litres of special spirit to the company.

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