Death Toll Rises to Eight in Gujarat Spurious Liquor Tragedy
BHAVNAGAR: The death toll from the consumption of toxic, chemical-laced liquor in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district has climbed to eight, with an additional 39 people currently receiving medical treatment at government and private facilities, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The tragedy has triggered a massive police crackdown in a state where the manufacturing, sale, and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited. Authorities have already apprehended 13 individuals in connection with the case, all of whom have been remanded to police custody until August 31.
According to investigators, the victims had consumed illicit alcohol packaged in counterfeit bottles designed to mimic a popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand.
Investigation Uncovers Sophisticated Illicit Network
The State Monitoring Cell (SMC), which has taken over the investigation, identified a man named Raees as the "kingpin" behind the operation. He was apprehended in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and is currently being interrogated regarding the supply chain.
"The spurious liquor was produced at the residence of one of the arrested accused, Gautam Solanki, in Bhavnagar," said Mayursinh Chavda, Superintendent of Police for the SMC. "The raw materials, including ethanol and methanol, were sourced from various locations."
The investigation revealed a grim irony: one of the key operatives, Narendra Yadav—a resident of Madhya Pradesh who had traveled to Bhavnagar to assist in the manufacturing process—died after consuming the very toxic concoction he helped produce.
A Coordinated Crackdown
The incident first came to light following a death in Kharakadi village, under the jurisdiction of the Vartej police station. Subsequent investigations revealed that the liquor was laced with methanol, a highly toxic chemical.
Police teams have been dispatched to Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to trace the origins of the raw materials used in the illicit production. According to SP Chavda, the arrested suspects played various roles in the criminal enterprise, ranging from sourcing raw materials and manufacturing the liquor to distributing the counterfeit bottles and even printing forged labels.
"The movement of the accused, their contacts, and the origin of the sealing equipment are all under active investigation," Chavda added.
This latest incident has once again turned the spotlight on the implementation of the "dry" state policies in Gujarat. As the death toll continues to rise, the SMC remains focused on dismantling the supply chain, seizing forged branding materials, and identifying everyone involved in the manufacturing and distribution of the lethal brew.
