On Thursday, this paper had reported how a team from the Malwani police had returned empty-handed from the den of hooch seller Francis D’Mello. Just a day later, the Crime Branch had searched the den and recovered eight drums full of deadly methanol that could have resulted in hundreds of more deaths.

This was a clear indication that despite the hooch tragedy claiming 106 lives and leading to the transfer of Senior Police Inspector Prakash Patil and seven other policemen for dereliction of duty, the Malwani police have not learnt any lessons.