13 individuals have died after consuming illegal toxic liquor,and now Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is saying it should be treated like serious crime,not accident.
And his words were very direct . Fadnavis said,"This is effectively a murder,and very severe Sections are being applied . No leniency will be shown." That one line itself shows how badly authorities are viewing this whole illegal liquor racket now .
Police Commissioners of both cities have been told to take strictest possible measures against people involved in manufacturing and distribution of hooch . Fadnavis also said he has been in continuous communication with police authorities,which means this matter has gone straight to top level only.
What makes it more disturbing is that police have reportedly identified exact location where a methanol-like chemical was mixed into illicit liquor . Eight suspects have already been arrested,and search is still going on for more people connected with distribution network .
Few things standing out clearly here:
- 13 individuals have died due to illegal toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad .
- Eight suspects have already been arrested in ongoing investigation .
- Around 215 litres of highly toxic industrial methanol are suspected to have been mixed into country liquor .
And tbh,215 litres is not small thing . Forensic investigators suspect that this highly toxic industrial methanol was mixed before liquor got distributed,and that means this was not random bottle problem but possibly much bigger supply chain issue.
Death toll has also been confusing and scary,with 13 confirmed and 18 suspected fatalities being mentioned over past 48 hours as more cases emerged across two municipal zones . Families and local residents are linking these deaths to cheap liquor dens,and police are now going through medical reports for forensic review to build strong case.
Focus of investigation is also on Yogesh Wankhede ,described as notorious bootlegger with criminal history,who is believed to have supplied lethal batches to both locations . Fadnavis has directed police,State Excise,and forensic experts to carry out raids and trace full network behind this .
At same time,medical care is being given to those hospitalized in critical condition,and that part matters because some people are still fighting after drinking this poison . But bigger question is how such dens keep running till tragedy happens,and how many more such places are operating quietly right now…
