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N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras
At least 12 persons, including a woman, died on Friday night after consuming illicit liquor in the Ambattur suburb of Tamil Nadu capital Madras.
Another six persons are in hospital, and their condition is said to be serious.
The liquor was reportedly smuggled from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
All victims were part of a wedding party.
The police said the victims had gathered at the bride's residence on Friday night when they consumed illicit liquor sold in sachets, and brought in from Andhra Pradesh.
The police claimed that the recent drive against the production of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu, had encouraged smuggling.
This is the first major tragedy of its kind after the Jayalalithaa government took over in May.
With the coconut farmers in the state already demanding the re-introduction of toddy sales, to 'insure' them against the current fall in prices, the hooch tragedy could motivate the government to introduce the sale of 'quality arrack' through licensed outlets.
With the Tamil Nadu government facing unprecedented financial crisis, especially after the Reserve Bank of India denied further credit for paddy procurement until the overdue amount of Rs 5 billion is paid up, arrack and toddy are seen as potential revenue earners.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government had similarly introduced 'licensed arrack', while in power in 1990, after an hooch tragedy had claimed 40 lives in Panrutti.
However, the first order signed by Jayalalithaa after coming to power in 1991 reintroduced prohibition, while retaining the licensed sale of Indian-made foreign liquor.
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