Following the hootch deaths in Pune, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seized over 5,000 kg Methanol from the premises of Rex International Company in Bhiwandi in Thane district, on Saturday.
As per an FDA press release, the spurious liquor that caused multiple deaths in Pune district, contained Methanol procured from Rex International.
Meanwhile, as many as nine police personnel from Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad police, along with 13 state excise department officials in Pune, were suspended from service, for allegedly failing in their duties to control the illicit liquor trade.
At least 10 persons from Phugewadi-Dapodi areas of Pimpri-Chinchwad and four from Hadapsar area in Pune city died by consuming spurious liquor between May 26 and May 28. Seven persons from Pimpri-Chinchwad, who too had consumed the same liquor, are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
A few more deceased persons including one from Phugewadi-Dapodi and three from Hadapsar, are suspected to have died after drinking toxic liquor. But the police have not yet confirmed the cause behind their death.
An FIR was registered at Dapodi police station in Pimpri Chinchwad and another at Hadapsar police station in Pune city, against the illicit liquor racketeers, under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to muder), 123 (causing hurt by means of harmful substances with the intent to commit a crime), 110, 125, 275, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, sections 65(E), 68, 81 and 83 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. Three more offences were lodged with the state excise department.
Police officials said the state CID has taken over the investigation in hooch death cases.
Story continues below this ad
On Friday, the Pimpri Chinchwad police had arrested five persons identified as Karnelsingh Takhtsingh Virka, 73, Gurmangatsingh Karnelsingh Virka, 45, both residing near Deccan Paper Mill, Sanjay Nagar, Phugewadi; Yogesh Ramchandra Vhankade alias Sikandar Rathod, 23, of Keshavnagar in Mundhwa area Pune city; Radheshyam Hariram Prajapati, 35, of Urulikanchan and Kalpesh Ashok Agrawal, 29, of Khadki. A court remanded them to police custody till June 8.
Probe revealed that accused Vhankhade got liquor from Prajapati in Uruli Kanchan, and further supplied it to different parts of Pune and also to Virka in Phugewadi in Pimpri Chinchwad.
Police suspect that Vhankhade purchased over 200 litres of Methanol online a few days before. Then, at a location in the Phursungi area, he allegedly mixed Methanol into liquor taken from Prajapati, making it toxic.
He allegedly supplied the toxic liquor to Akash Jadhav at Pandhare Mala in Hadapsar, Irfan Qureshi at Pawar Wasti in Dapodi, and Aryan Dhotre at Wadarwadi in Gokhale Nagar. The liquor was sold for merely Rs 30 per pouch at these spots.
Story continues below this ad
After deaths were reported on Thursday, the state excise department nabbed Vhankhade, and subsequently, raided the illicit liquor dens in Hadapsar, Dapodi and Gokhale Nagar. About 645 liters of liquor mixed with Methanol was seized from these locations.
While Vhankhade was handed over to the police, excise officials took Jadhav, Qureshi and Dhotre into custody for further investigation. Liquor samples were sent to the forensic lab.
Police probe confirmed that Methanol in Pune hootch death cases came from Rex International Company, having an office in Vashi and godown on Anjur Road, Bhiwandi. As per the orders of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, his team raided the godown and seized about 5,929 kg Methanol from the spot.
“No records regarding the sale, purchase and stocking of the poisonous chemical (Methanol) were available at the company. An offence was lodged against company owner Arunkumar Choubey and an office bearer Abhishek Choubey at the Narpoli police station in Bhiwandi. Both accused were already detained by the state excise department for investigation,” the FDA press release stated.
Story continues below this ad
It also mentioned that FDA issued a show case notice to the company and initiated the process of cancellation of its licence as per the provisions of the Poisons Act.
Police said accused Vhankhade was earlier booked in three offences. Jadhav and Prajapati were also booked in four offences each in the past, while Virka was accused in one previous case.
Meanwhile, as per the orders of Amitesh Kumar, Commissioner of Pune city police, three officers of Hadapsar police station – senior inspector Sanjay Mogale, assistant inspector Hasina Shikalgar and sub inspector Hasan Mulani, were suspended from service for allegedly failing to curb the sale of illicit hand-brewed liquor in their jurisdiction.
Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey suspended six nine personnel from Dapodi police station – senior inspector Vijay Waghmare, sub inspector Raju bhaskar, havaldars Jaydeep Sonawane, Navnath Pote, constables Sagar Jadhav, Vishal Kale. Nine officers and four staffers of the state excise department in Pune were also suspended, stated a press release issued on Saturday.
Story continues below this ad
In the wake of hooch deaths, teams of Uruli Kanchan police station, Pune rural, conducted raids at illegal liquor dens at Shindawane and Bhavrapur villages in Haveli taluka. “Raids were carried out on Friday and would continue. Chemicals and equipment used for making liquor at these spots were seized,” said police inspector Sachin Wangade.
