The deaths of 13 people after consuming toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have exposed a sprawling illicit liquor network operating across multiple jurisdictions in the district.
Investigators have found that the liquor was allegedly adulterated with methanol to increase profits, leading to one of the deadliest hooch tragedies in Maharashtra in recent years.
According to the investigation, Radheshyam Prajapati (35), a resident of Uruli Kanchan, was involved in manufacturing illicit liquor. The liquor was allegedly purchased by Yogesh Wankhede (23), a known bootlegger, who supplied it to several illegal liquor dens across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Police sources said that after procuring the liquor from Prajapati, Wankhede mixed methanol into it to increase the quantity and maximise profits. The addition of methanol nearly doubled the volume of the liquor. However, investigators believe that an excessive amount of the toxic chemical was mixed into the batch, making it fatal for
consumers.
The adulterated liquor was allegedly supplied to multiple illegal liquor outlets. In Pimpri-Chinchwad's Phugewadi area, Wankhede is accused of selling the liquor to Kernel Singh Virk and Gurmeet Singh Virk, a father-son duo who operated an illicit liquor den. Authorities suspect that several deaths are linked to liquor sold from this outlet.
Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed it a "very unfortunate incident" and said authorities had identified the ecosystem behind the illicit liquor trade.
"Eight people have been arrested immediately in connection with the case, and some more people may also be arrested. We have identified the complete ecosystem behind this. Efforts are being made thoroughly to trace how far this ecosystem has spread. Our police are jointly working with the Excise Department on this. I believe that we will certainly reach the roots of this and eliminate it. This has been prepared using a product like methanol," Fadnavis said.
So far, eight accused have been arrested in the case, including six by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police and two by the Pune Police. Official records show that eight people died in Pimpri-Chinchwad and five in Pune, taking the total death toll to 13.
Meanwhile, amid growing outrage over the deaths, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar visited an alleged illegal liquor den in Pune's Hadapsar area and vandalised the premises along with his supporters in protest.
Pawar also questioned the role of the police in the investigation and alleged an attempt to shield the key conspirators behind the illicit liquor network.
"When asked about the incident, the police claim that the exact cause is still not known. It appears that the police are trying to protect someone. One of the accused has allegedly been asked to surrender voluntarily so that further investigation into the case does not proceed and the main mastermind, the 'big fish' behind the racket, can escape," Pawar alleged.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to trace the source of the methanol and identify others involved in the supply chain.
