According to an exclusive report in The Hindu, two previously unnamed high-ranking IPS officers have been named in the gutkha scam for “illegally facilitating storage, transportation and sale of the tobacco product in Chennai”. However, these officers have not been named. This widens the already large net of the gutkha scam which amounts to a tax evasion of over Rs 250 crores.
The alleged scam was uncovered in 2016 when raids shook the godown, offices and residences of a pan masala and gutkha manufacturer in Tamil Nadu, who was facing charges of evading taxes to the tune of Rs 250 crore. The sale of gutkha and chewable tobacco is banned in the state.
The documents reportedly show that Rs 65 lakh was paid to the two Joint Commissioners of Police between June 6, 2015, and March 21, 2016. This amount forms a part of the overall Rs 39.91 crores paid to different officials.
The Tamil Nadu government recently came under fire for transferring Vigilance Commissioner VK Jeyakodi, the top cop at the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption who was heading the investigation into the scam.
The documents reportedly also reveal that the gutkha business in the state was well and thriving despite the state-wide ban on its sale.
In a disclosure to the Madras High Court on January 12, the Income Tax department said that its report to the former Director General of Police Ashok Kumar on the gutkha scam was found during the raids conducted at former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s residence in November. The letter reportedly detailed corruption involving the Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabhakar, top police officers and others in the scam.