29 May,2026 06:06 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Pune spurious liquor deaths rise to 12 (Representational image)
At least 12 persons died in the Pimpri Chinchwad area and Pune city after consuming suspected spurious liquor, and the police have arrested eight individuals, including a key bootlegger, in this connection, officials said on Friday.
Expressing his views on the incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed it "very serious." He further said that more persons are likely to be arrested as the "entire ecosystem" involved in the supply of spurious liquor has been identified.
Seven people died in the Phugewadi area of Pimpri Chinchwad, while five others died in the Pandhare Mala area of Pune's Hadapsar after consuming suspected spurious liquor. Three men suspected of consuming toxic liquor are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Pimpri Chinchwad, the police said.
The officials, while briefing about the incident, said that a pall of gloom descended in the Phugewadi and Hadapsar areas following the deaths. Police have arrested a total of eight persons, including a key bootlegger, in connection with the alleged supply of methanol-laced liquor to the Phugewadi area in Pimpri Chinchwad, as per PTI.
As per ANI, two accused, Akash Jadhav and one unidentified person, have also been named in the FIR on Friday.
Sandip Atole, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), Pimpri Chinchwad, said, "Following multiple deaths in Phugewadi, we have launched a probe. We found that seven persons have died so far due to suspected consumption of toxic liquor, and three others are undergoing treatment."
He also said, "Test reports, which will confirm the exact cause of the deaths, are awaited."
"Eight persons were arrested in a joint operation involving the State Excise Department and the local police," he added.
Senior inspector Sanjay Mogale of the Hadapsar police station said that five persons died in the area due to suspected consumption of spurious liquor. He also added, "Their autopsy reports are awaited, and our probe is on."
State Excise Commissioner Atul Kanade said the department has launched a probe following the deaths.
"We detained one Yogesh Wankhede, who was involved in the supply of spurious liquor to both Phugewadi and Hadapsar. He has been handed over to the Pimpri Chinchwad police, and they are taking further action," he added.
Fadnavis, while expressing more about the incident, also said, "This is a very serious incident. Eight persons have been immediately arrested in this connection, and some more are also likely to be arrested. We have identified the complete ecosystem behind it," as cited by PTI.
"Our police are making full efforts in the matter and are also trying to find out how far this ecosystem has spread. The police are jointly working with the Excise Department," Fadnavis further added.
(With inputs from PTI)
