TASMAC liquor outlets across Mayiladuthurai district remained shut till 3 p.m. on Tuesday after employees resorted to a flash strike condemning the registration of a police case against staff of a liquor outlet at Sattanathapuram near Sirkazhi over allegations of collecting ₹10 extra per bottle from customers.

According to TASMAC employees’ union representatives, the Sirkazhi police registered a case against supervisor Kamaraj and salesman Babu of the Sattanathapuram TASMAC outlet based on a complaint lodged by a functionary of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The complaint alleged that the employees had collected ₹10 in excess of the prescribed price for liquor bottles.

The issue of TASMAC outlets allegedly charging an additional ₹10 per bottle has gained attention in recent weeks, with several videos purportedly showing such collections circulating widely on social media.

Condemning the police action, TASMAC employees in Mayiladuthurai district went on a strike and closed liquor outlets across the district till 3 p.m. As many as 43 TASMAC shops reportedly remained shut during the period.

More than 100 TASMAC employees submitted a petition to the District Collector’s Office, demanding withdrawal of the case and insisting that criminal cases should not be registered before departmental inquiries are conducted.

The employees also sought police protection at liquor outlets and urged the government to bear operational expenses incurred by TASMAC shops. Among their other demands were appointment of four employees in outlets recording sales of ₹1 lakh a day, fixation of adequate rent for shop premises, deployment of workers for collection of empty bottles with wages, payment of ₹8 as unloading charges per liquor carton, and compensation by the administration for liquor bottles damaged during handling.