Overview
The death toll in the Bhavnagar spurious liquor tragedy rose to 13 on Sunday after two more victims died during treatment, according to officials. Three other people remain hospitalised in stable condition.
Mukesh Damor (36) and Bhargav Upadhyay (42) were the latest victims. Upadhyay died on Sunday, and Damor died on Saturday, confirmed Bhavnagar collector Manish Kumar Bansal. Two patients are receiving care at Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital and one at Pulse Hospital; all three are reported stable.
Over the past two days, five deaths have been reported. Officials have said at least 67 people consumed the liquor, which contained methanol, a highly toxic industrial chemical. Authorities also traced 24 other consumers who underwent medical examinations; all were found in normal health.
Gujarat is a dry state, where the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor are prohibited. Police have said victims consumed spurious liquor packed in bottles bearing the name of a popular Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) brand.
Investigation and arrests
The case initially came to light on August 18, after people fell ill in Kharkhadi village. An accidental death case was registered at Vartej police station, and the investigation was later handed over to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC), a specialised Gujarat police unit, on the directive of DGP G S Malik.
Police have arrested at least 14 of the 21 accused named in the FIR so far. The accused have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prohibition Act, including those related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, adulteration and poisoning. A local court on Thursday remanded the arrested accused to police custody for seven days.
According to the FIR, the spurious liquor was allegedly prepared at the residence of Gautam Solanki in Vartej with the help of Rayees, who has been detained in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The drinking material is said to have been procured from different parts of the country, including raw materials from Madhya Pradesh and labels, bottles, and caps from Ahmedabad. The record also alleges that the first batch of liquor was sold, and a subsequent batch was destroyed, with a second batch being prepared with the help of Narendrasingh Yadav, who later died after consuming the drink. The Financial Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the seized liquor contained 38.59% methanol and only 0.94% ethanol.
Arrests and supply chain
By Sunday, the SMC had arrested a total of 27 people in connection with the case. The latest 13 arrests were made following interrogation of earlier detainees, which revealed details of the supply chain. The newly arrested accused were produced in court and remanded to police custody until September 2, according to officials.
The SMC has set up 16 teams that are working across Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, upgraded states, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh to trace the origins of the chemicals and the people who transported them. The investigation has also focused on the bottle-sealing equipment and the sources of bottles, labels, and caps used in the operation.
A total of 61 people have been affected in the incident, according to one account. However, another figure indicates that 63 people were affected, of whom 13 died, 48 recovered, and two are still undergoing treatment. Officials have said that 24 other consumers were traced and examined, and were all normal found.
Medical response and additional developments
The incident has prompted an emergency response from the state and central governments. A minister of state for chemicals and Fertilizers (Nimuben) travelled to Bhavnagar and reviewed the treatment arrangements at the city's Super Specialist Hospital on Monday. She directed officials to ensure timely and advanced care for the affected patients.
Authorities have been supply critical injections for the treatment. Gujarat initially had only 10 of the required injections, led to the state contacting Maharashtra for additional supplies, according to the minister. The government is also making efforts to restart six closed hospital departments, including super-specialty and nephrology services, to meet the needs of the patients.
Additionally, the district has been making available specialist care, including dialysis. A nephrologist was already available when the first patients arrived, and another specialist was brought in from Ahmedabad to augment the medical team.
Broader Context
Gujarat's status as a dry state has long shaped its approach to alcohol-related crimes. The state prohibition law bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol, and the government has often emphasised enforcement. In the current case, the SMC has taken over the investigation, and additional police officials have been suspended after a preliminary inquiry found negligence in handling the matter.
The case has also attracted national attention, with more arrests expected. The investigation teams have been presented to the outside of Gujarat, and transit warrants are being sought to bring the accused from Madhya Pradesh, among other states. The authorities have also been scrutinising the source of the bottle-sealing equipment used in the operation.
While the immediate focus remains a health and treatment of those affected, the probe is expanding to trace the entire network behind the counterfeit liquor, from raw material supply and manufacturing to packaging and distribution. According to police officials, the probe has revealed that the liquor was packed under an IMEL label and distributed to bootleggers, and the case is being treated as a financial delinquency. The SMC has deployed 16 teams across multiple states to reinforce all those involved, and further arrests are expected shortly.