04 June,2026 07:16 PM IST | Navi Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
As part of the crackdown, the FDA recently raided Rex International, a licensed methanol dealer in Bhiwandi, and seized 5,229 kg of suspected methanol worth around Rs 3.6 lakh. FILE PIC
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a massive statewide inspection drive covering all licensed methanol establishments after the Pune hooch tragedy raised serious concerns over the monitoring and diversion of the highly toxic chemical.
According to the FDA, Maharashtra has 988 licensed methanol establishments, of which 51 are non-operational. As on Wednesday, officials had completed inspections at 226 establishments, while 762 more remain under scrutiny as part of a special statewide audit ordered by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
The inspections gained urgency after the recent hooch tragedy in Pune, where methanol is suspected to have been used in the manufacture of illicit liquor, leading to multiple deaths and hospitalisations. Senior FDA officials have been directed to complete inspections of all active licence holders within the next few days and initiate stringent action against violators.
As part of the crackdown, the FDA recently raided Rex International, a licensed methanol dealer in Bhiwandi, and seized 5,229 kg of suspected methanol worth around Rs 3.6 lakh. The stock has been sent for laboratory analysis, the premises have been sealed and the firm's licence has been cancelled. A criminal case has also been registered against the company's owners.
Officials said methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is a poisonous substance regulated under the Poisons Act, 1919, and the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972. Its storage, transport, distribution and sale require special licences and are subject to periodic inspections.
FDA officials said the current drive is not limited to checking stock registers and licences but also aims to verify whether methanol is being diverted from legitimate industrial use into illegal liquor manufacturing networks.
Commissioner Mundhe has warned that any establishment found violating licence conditions or endangering public health will face strict legal action, including criminal prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Poisons Act.
The ongoing inspections are expected to reveal the scale of compliance among methanol dealers and whether regulatory gaps contributed to the supply chain that allegedly fuelled the Pune hooch tragedy. With more than 760 establishments yet to be checked, the statewide audit is likely to remain under close watch in the coming days.
