Pune: The death toll in the suspected spurious liquor tragedy in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad has risen to 15, with authorities alleging that methanol was mixed into country-made liquor sold in the region. Nine people have been arrested, and the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) has been directed to investigate the case.
Death Toll Rises Across Pune Region
Officials said four deaths were reported from Pune’s Hadapsar area between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Five deaths occurred in Pimpri Chinchwad, while six fatalities had already been reported on Thursday.
The incident prompted the state government to order a CID inquiry into cases registered by both the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerates.
Sunil Ramanand said CID teams had been dispatched to collect samples and evidence and would coordinate with other agencies involved in the investigation.
Fadnavis Calls Incident ‘Akin to Murder’
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as comparable to murder and said stringent legal provisions would be invoked against those responsible.
According to preliminary findings, investigators believe a methanol-based substance was mixed into illicit liquor, leading to the deaths.
The chief minister said police and state excise officials had already identified the location where the liquor was allegedly prepared and were working to uncover the wider distribution network.
Nine Arrested
Police and excise authorities have arrested nine individuals in connection with the manufacture, distribution and sale of the suspected spurious liquor.
Among those arrested is Yogesh Vhankade, who investigators allege mixed methanol into country-made liquor before distributing it to local vendors.
The accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, causing hurt by poison, endangering life and sale of noxious food or drink, along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
Methanol Allegedly Purchased Online
According to investigators, Vhankade allegedly obtained country-made liquor from a facility in Uruli Kanchan and mixed it with methanol that had reportedly been purchased through an e-commerce platform.
The adulterated liquor was then allegedly supplied to vendors in Phugewadi, Khadki and Hadapsar.
Many of the victims in the Phugewadi area were daily-wage workers employed in the logistics sector, police said.
Forensic Analysis Underway
Amitesh Kumar said post-mortem examinations had been conducted and viscera samples preserved for forensic testing.
The samples have been sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, and authorities said the exact cause of death will be confirmed once the reports are received.
Authorities Trace Distribution Network
State excise officials said their investigation so far strongly indicates that methanol contamination caused the fatalities.
Officials added that tracing the supply chain and identifying the main accused helped authorities move quickly to prevent further distribution of the liquor and potentially avert additional deaths.
The CID investigation is expected to focus on the source of the methanol, the production process, and the broader network involved in the manufacture and sale of the illicit alcohol.
