Puducherry cops object to ‘unauthorised’ Tamil Nadu Police raid at liquor shop

A raid conducted by Tamil Nadu Police at a wine shop in Madukkarai, located on the border between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, sparked opposition from the Union Territory’s police on Saturday.
The standoff began when Tamil Nadu Police, stationed at a checkpoint on the Pennai Bridge, intercepted a man attempting to smuggle 10 liquor packets into the state. The sale of liquor in packets is prohibited in Tamil Nadu, prompting authorities to take immediate action.
A team of 10 officers visited the wine shop in Madukkarai, operated by Raja from Andiyarpalayam under a valid licence issued by the Puducherry government. The Tamil Nadu Police conducted a flash search of the premises and seized 40 litres of liquor packets.
However, tensions arose when Madukkarai Sub-Inspector Veerabathran and his team arrived at the scene and objected to Tamil Nadu Police taking custody of the seized liquor. They argued that the wine shop falls under Puducherry’s jurisdiction, making any seizure by Tamil Nadu authorities ‘unauthorised’.
In response, Tamil Nadu Police stated that the sale of liquor packets, banned in their state, warranted a thorough investigation of the source to prevent further violations. The disagreement escalated into a heated argument outside the wine shop.
Later, Tamil Nadu Police handed over the seized liquor packets to the Madukkarai Police Station. They also issued a warning that stringent action would be taken against anyone attempting to smuggle or sell banned liquor packets in Tamil Nadu.