Three employees attached to TASMAC wine shop in Thiruvidaimaruthur taluk, Thanjavur district were temporarily suspended pending departmental inquiry over the allegation of collecting ‘extra money’ from customers.

According to sources, the suspended employees serving as supervisors and salesman at shop number 8152 at S. Pudur area in Thiruvidaimaruthur taluk, had allegedly collected ₹20 over and above the maximum retail price printed on the products.

The departmental inquiry was a result of media reports that the S. Pudur TASMAC retail outlet employees were demanding ‘extra money’ from the customers. The Deputy Collector-cum-TASMAC Thanjavur District Manager, K. Thamizhmani, issued notices to K. Manoharan and G. Arumugam, supervisors, and M. Sekar, salesman attached to the S.Pudur shop, indicating that their services were temporarily suspended from the afternoon of May 17, pending departmental inquiry.

The annual festival of Poondi Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica (popularly known as Poondi Matha Kovil) near Thirukkattuppalli in Thanjavur district culminated on May 15 with lowering of the holy flag.

The festival commenced on May 6 with holy flag hoisting and followed by Holy Mass during the ‘nava naatkal’ (novena days). On May 14 evening, the decorated idol of the Lady of Lourdes was placed on a car and pulled by the believers on the Basilica premises.

On May 15 morning, a Memorial Holy Mass of former Parish Priest V.S. Lurde Xavier and Royapper were held, according to a Basilica release.