31 May,2026 12:00 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
According to investigators, the toxic liquor consumed by the victims was being sold for as little as Rs 30 per bottle. Representational pic
In a major breakthrough in the Pune hooch tragedy probe, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has traced the source of the methanol allegedly used to adulterate spurious liquor, leading to raids and multiple arrests.
The FDA conducted raids on premises linked to Shri Rex International, which operates an office in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, and a warehouse in Bhiwandi. During the operation, officials seized 5,929 kilograms of methanol that was allegedly being stored illegally.
The probe revealed that methanol, a highly toxic chemical used in industrial applications, had been mixed with the liquor consumed by the victims. Police have arrested Karnelsingh Takhtsingh Virka (73), Gurmangatsingh Karnelsingh Virka (45), Yogesh Ramchandra Wankhede (23), Radhesham Hariram Prajapati (35), Indarjit Kaur Karnelsingh Virka (60), and Kalpesh Agrawal (29) in connection with the case.
Investigators alleged that Karnelsingh Virka procured the liquor from Wankhede, who sourced the methanol from Prajapati of Uruli Kanchan in Pune district.
The owners of Rex International, Arun Kumar Choubey and Abhishek Arun Kumar Choubey, have already been taken into custody by the State Excise Department.
An FDA team raided Rex International's Bhiwandi premises on Friday. Investigators were reportedly unable to find records relating to the storage, purchase, or sale of methanol. No stock registers, ledger entries, or mandatory verification documents required under the Poisons Act were available at the premises, officials said.
To prevent any further misuse of the toxic substance, the entire stock was seized and sealed.
A complaint has been lodged at Narpoli Police Station in Bhiwandi against Arun Kumar Choubey and Abhishek Arun Kumar Choubey. Police have registered a case against the duo, while the FDA has issued a show-cause notice and initiated proceedings to cancel the company's licence under the provisions of the Poisons Act.
According to investigators, the toxic liquor consumed by the victims was being sold for as little as Rs 30 per bottle.
Officials said the victims had allegedly consumed the illicit liquor at the residence of Karnelsingh Virka in the Phugewadi area.
Following the findings of the investigation, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe ordered immediate action against those involved in the illegal storage and distribution of the chemical.
Speaking on the crackdown, Mundhe said the administration would show no leniency toward any individual or organisation found endangering public health. He emphasised that access to safe food and medicines is a fundamental right of every citizen and assured strict enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, along with other relevant laws.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan on Saturday said the death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad had risen to 17 or 18. A senior police official, however, said the toll stood at 15.
Mahajan, who visited the families of the victims, termed the incident "very painful" and said most of the victims were daily-wage labourers who consumed liquor adulterated with methanol. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims, while the local civic body has sanctioned an additional Rs 1 lakh in aid, he said.
"The death toll has reached 17-18. These people belonged to economically weaker sections and consumed this liquor as it was available cheap," the minister stated.
The Maharashtra government has also suspended 22 police and excise department personnel for failing to act against the illegal liquor trade.
(With IANS and PTI inputs)
