State Monitoring Cell expands probe after nine die in Bhavnagar methanol tragedy
Bhavnagar, Gujarat — Nine persons have died and 39 others were hospitalised after consuming spurious, methanol-contaminated liquor in Bhavnagar district, officials said, as a State Monitoring Cell (SMC) investigation has led to multiple arrests and departmental action against police personnel.
Investigators said the illicit product was packaged in counterfeit bottles bearing "Royal Stag" labels and that a substantial manufacturing and packaging setup was unearthed during raids. The seizure included chemicals and colouring agents, ready-filled counterfeit bottles, fake branded stickers and sticker rolls, bottle caps and cardboard packaging material, the SMC reported.
“Preliminary findings indicate the spurious liquor contained high levels of methanol,” the SMC said, adding that raw materials appear to have been sourced from various parts of the country and that the investigation is being widened beyond Bhavnagar.
Police produced the accused before a local court which granted custodial interrogation, investigators said. So far, 13 persons have been arrested and 21 people have been booked in the case, including the prime accused named as Gautam Solanki, officials added. Solanki is reported to have engaged associates to set up the manufacturing operation, with one intermediary identified as Raees and another associate named Zuber.
The illicit racket came to light during an investigation of an accidental death case registered after the death of a newly recruited police constable, Upendrasinh Gohil (25). Six of the deceased have been identified as Upendrasinh Gohil (25), Kartik Makwana (40), Kanaksinh Gohil (37), Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja (49), Hitesh Parmar (42) and Jay Bhatti (35). A seventh deceased named in police records was Narendrasinh Yadav (47); Yadav has also been named as an accused in the complaint registered at Vartej police station.
Authorities said toxic effects were reported in 46 people after consumption of the rotgut liquor. Several of those admitted to hospitals were reported to be in critical condition with breathing difficulties among the complications.
Enforcement lapses, supply links probed
The SMC said investigators are examining supply links in other districts of Gujarat and in other states to trace the source of ingredients used in the production. A senior SMC officer indicated that methanol had been procured from outside the state and mixed with liquor to increase volume and reduce costs — a practice the accused allegedly knew could be fatal.
Questions about monitoring movements of chemicals and the illicit supply chain have been raised as teams examine the role of transporters and intermediaries who moved consignments between states. Investigators said the case differs from previous hooch tragedies in the region because victims consumed liquor packaged and circulated as industrial-made foreign liquor (IMFL) rather than traditional country-made hooch.
Departmental action has been taken amid scrutiny of enforcement responses. Six police personnel, including two inspectors, have been suspended while authorities probe potential lapses in detection and interdiction that may have allowed the operation to persist.
The investigating officer, S M Jadeja, said raids uncovered a large-scale manufacturing setup and that interrogation of the accused is ongoing. The SMC has broadened the probe to follow the production, supply and distribution chain behind the toxic brew.
- Deaths: 9
- People affected / toxic effects: 46
- Hospitalised: 39
- People booked: 21
- Arrests: 13 (including prime accused)
- Police personnel suspended: 6 (including two inspectors)
| Item | Count |
|---|---|
| Deceased | 9 |
| Hospitalised | 39 |
| Booked | 21 |
| Arrested | 13 |
Local health and police authorities continue to manage treatment for the sick and the criminal investigation, while the SMC said it would trace distribution networks that moved the adulterated IMFL in and around Bhavnagar. Further details from custodial interrogation and laboratory analysis of seized samples are awaited.
