Spurious Alcohol Tragedy in Maharashtra Claims 15 Lives as Main Accused Arrested

A suspected spurious alcohol tragedy has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra after 15 people lost their lives within 48 hours in and around Pune district. The incident has triggered an intensive investigation by police and excise authorities, who are working to uncover the full extent of the illegal liquor network behind the deaths.

The latest reports indicate that eight people died within the last 24 hours, while seven others lost their lives the previous day. Most of the deaths were reported from Fugewadi in Pimpri Chinchwad and parts of Hadapsar, raising serious concerns among residents and authorities.

Investigators suspect that the victims may have consumed liquor contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic chemical that can cause severe health complications and death. Many of the victims reportedly complained of intense stomach pain before their condition worsened.

As the death toll climbed, enforcement agencies moved quickly and arrested the alleged main supplier connected to the case. Officials identified the accused as Yogesh Wankhade, who is believed to have distributed the suspected illicit liquor in the affected areas. Following his arrest, he was handed over to Pimpri Chinchwad police for further questioning.

According to preliminary findings, the same individual allegedly supplied liquor to both Fugewadi and Hadapsar. Authorities are now examining whether additional people were involved in the manufacturing, transportation, and distribution of the suspected toxic alcohol.

The Maharashtra Excise Department has confirmed that a criminal case has been registered and that multiple teams are investigating the supply chain. Officials are also conducting raids at locations suspected of producing or storing illegal liquor.

Police have stated that postmortem reports will provide crucial evidence regarding the exact cause of death. While methanol contamination remains the primary line of investigation, authorities are waiting for forensic confirmation before reaching a final conclusion.

Earlier reports had raised questions about whether all of the deaths were directly linked to alcohol consumption. However, in light of the growing number of fatalities, officials have ordered a comprehensive review of every suspicious death connected to the case.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers of illegally produced liquor and the risks posed by underground alcohol networks. With investigations continuing at full pace, authorities have assured strict action against everyone found responsible for the supply of the suspected spurious alcohol that led to the deadly incident.