An inter-state gang allegedly sourced raw material from Delhi to manufacture and distribute spurious liquor which claimed at least 20 lives in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh earlier this month, the police said. Police added that one of the alleged manufacturers also died after consuming the adulterated liquor himself.
The police probe has unearthed a wider network involved in manufacturing and selling the liquor, which was branded ‘Sagar Gold,’ according to police.
Spurious liquor manufactured in Tatarwara
Police went on to say that Dinesh Shivhare, a native of Morena, was involved in manufacturing the spurious liquor and was later hospitalised after consuming it. He died of alcohol poisoning after other members of the gang allegedly got him discharged from hospital in a bid to avoid detection.
During raids carried out at multiple locations across Madhya Pradesh, the cops seized machines used to manufacture bottles, bottle-sealing equipment, 11,050 empty bottles, raw capsules for plastic bottles and other materials.
So far, 52 people have been named as suspects, of whom 37 have been apprehended. The two primary suspects, identified as Manish Lodhi and Siddharth Kushwaha, are still at large. Sagar’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Anurag Sujania said police received reports on September 6 about deaths allegedly linked to spurious liquor consumption in villages under Banda police station. Separate cases were registered, following which the key accused, Ravi Lakhera and Karni Sena leader Chandrabhan alias Chandu Raja, fell into the police dragnet.
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According to Sujania, interrogation of the accused revealed a wider network. Lakhera, who had allegedly been released on bail in a fake liquor manufacturing case in Lalitpur just 15 days ago, told the cops that he, Manish Lodhi alias Yashwant Thakur and Ashish Sahu had planned to manufacture and supply illicit liquor under the cover of licensed products.
Raw materials allegedly brought from Delhi
Police said Chandu Raja admitted to having partnerships with licensed contractors Siddharth Kushwaha and Manish Lodhi to facilitate illegal sales through licensed shops.
Investigators further found that Shivanjay Rajput and Rohit Patel allegedly connected Chandu Raja with Dinesh Shivhare. Shivhare, police said, sourced raw materials, including industrial spirit, from Delhi, while bottle wrappers were brought from Gwalior.
The spurious liquor was allegedly manufactured at Chandu Raja’s house in Tatarwara and supplied to neighbouring villages. Police said the liquor was transported to Sagar before being sold through associates posing as licensed-shop operators to commission agents in and around Tatarwara, including Nauraj, Gugra, Chhapri, Jagthar, Bamurabheda and Patan.
Maker dies, associate loses eyesight
Sujania said Shivhare and his associate Deva alias Devendra Jatav fell seriously ill after tasting the adulterated liquor. Shivhare was admitted to a private hospital in Bhopal on September 5.
His condition deteriorated sharply the following day, prompting the suspects to realise that the liquor had turned toxic, police said. Despite his critical condition, they allegedly got him discharged and sent him towards Morena. Shivhare died on the way, while Jatav reportedly lost his eyesight.
Police subsequently arrested bottle supplier Pankaj Rai. Acting on information provided by him, investigators raided a factory operating in Rai Colony in Gwalior. In a separate line of investigation, police detained Anup Giri, owner of RN Chemical, which allegedly supplied chemicals from Delhi to Sagar. Police said Giri admitted during questioning that he had sent five plastic drums containing industrial spirit/thinner from Delhi to Sagar by transport. He has been arrested.