The death toll in connection with the spurious liquor consumption, which unfolded in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, has climbed to 13 on Sunday after two more affected people died during treatment, police said. Meanwhile, three other affected persons are hospitalised and are said to be in a stable condition. 

Bhavnagar Collector Manish Bansal said the ones who died recently have been identified as Bhargavbhai Upadhyay (42) and Mukeshbhai Manilal Damor (36), both residents of Bhavnagar. They died while receiving treatment on Sunday, he added. 

3 still hospitalised

According to officials aware of the development, three persons are still receiving medical care, of whom, two are admitted to the Sir T Hospital, while one is admitted to Pulse Hospital. Officials added that their condition remains stable. 

As many as 61 people have been affected due to the consumption of the spurious liquor, triggering a widespread probe into the illicit manufacture and distribution of spurious liquor. Notably, Gujarat is a dry state, where the sale, manufacture, distribution and consumption of liquor are prohibited under the state’s prohibition law. 

Liquor was consumed at a farmhouse party

As per the FIR filed in the incident, the liquor was first consumed at a party organised at a farmhouse in Kharakadi village on the night of August 16. 

One Narendra Singh Yadav fell ill after consuming the liquor, and was admitted to a hospital in Bhavnagar on August 17. He died while undergoing treatment the next day. 

Initially, the case was registered at Vartej police station on August 18 as an accidental death case. However, during the probe, police found that several other people had died or had suffered grave health complications after allegedly consuming the same spurious liquor. 

Gujarat’s Director General of Police (DGP) GS Malik later handed over the probe to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC). 

14 held, 21 named as accused

Key accused in the case, Raees, was arrested on Friday and remained in police custody for nine days, taking the total arrest tally to 14. Police have registered cases against 21 people. 

According to the FIR, Raees, Gautam Virambhai Solanki (24) of Vartej and a man identified as Zuber from Ujjain headed to Ahmedabad to purchase methanol, bottles, caps and liquor stickers. 

They allegedly manufactured spurious liquor at Solanki’s house, following which they prepared a total of 51 cases of the illicit liquor and sold them. A second batch prepared by the group was allegedly destroyed., following which Raees brought Yadav from MP owing to his expertise in preparing liquor. 

The group subsequently prepared close to 25 more cases, supplying them to bootleggers and consumers in Bhavnagar. 

Methanol discovered in liquor, victims’ blood

As per the FIR, methanol was used to manufacture the spurious liquor. A bottle seized by officials reportedly contained 38.59% methanol and 0.94% ethanol. Methanol was also detected in the blood samples collected from victims. 

Meanwhile, two police inspectors and five other cops were suspended after a preliminary probe found negligence in connection with the case.