Bhavnagar, Aug 20 — The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has arrested 13 people in connection with the spurious liquor incident in Bhavnagar district after an investigation found that duplicate hooch containing a high quantity of methanol was being sold in bottles bearing stickers of a famous Indian whisky, officials said on Thursday.
Seven people have died so far and 25 are receiving treatment at various hospitals.
The development came after Vartej Police Station initially registered an accidental death case on August 18 following deaths and illnesses linked to consumption of the illegal liquor.
The case was registered as Accidental Death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
During the investigation, police found that people had consumed duplicate liquor containing a high quantity of methanol from bottles carrying the Indian whisky's stickers.
Taking the seriousness of the incident into account, Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik directed the State Monitoring Cell to take over the investigation.
A criminal case was subsequently registered at Vartej Police Station against 21 accused allegedly involved in the manufacture and sale of duplicate liquor.
The accused have been booked under Sections 105, 123, 61(2), 3(5), 274, 275, 345(3) and 349 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Sections 65(A, B, D, E, F), 65A(2), 65A(3), 67(1)(A), 81 and 83 of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
Following the DGP's directions, SMC Police Inspector S.M. Jadeja took charge of the investigation.
The SMC formed separate teams and arrested 13 of the 21 accused named in the case. Police are seeking remand of the arrested accused for further investigation.
The arrested suspects are Gautam Solanki, 24; Jatin Kambad, 21; Saras Solanki, 25; Paras alias Pappu Chudasama, 30; Mandeep Singh Prithviraj Singh Gohil, 20; Dharmendra Singh alias Dhamo Gohil, 30; Jaydeep Makwana, 27; Harsh alias Hasu Chauhan, 25; Vivek Algotar, 26; Bhargav Bhatt, 29; Keval alias Sango Solanki; Sukhdev Salat, 25; and Hardik alias Tincho Baraiya, 25.
According to police, the accused are from different parts of Bhavnagar district, including Vartej, Kharkadi, Ghogha and Bhavnagar city.
During the arrests, the SMC seized duplicate liquor bottles, chemicals and colours allegedly used to manufacture spurious liquor, along with the whisky's labels, sticker rolls, caps, cardboard and other material.
Police said the material had allegedly been procured through transportation from different parts of the country.
Separate SMC teams have, therefore, been sent to various locations in Gujarat and other parts of the country to arrest the remaining accused and other people whose involvement has emerged during the investigation.
The police investigation is also focussed on establishing the wider supply chain, including the source of the liquor and materials, the locations where the counterfeit stock was prepared and the places to which it was distributed.
In a public appeal, Gujarat Police warned people against consuming liquor from bottles carrying the sticker identified in the case. The authorities said people had died and others had suffered serious injuries after consuming the poisonous liquor.
Police asked anyone possessing a bottle of the type shown in the appeal, or liquor carrying the identified sticker, to destroy it immediately and not consume it.
"Anyone who has already consumed liquor from such a bottle has been urged to visit the nearest clinic or hospital immediately and undergo a medical examination," officials said.
The police also asked the public to carefully note the barcode and number displayed on the suspected bottle.
The bottle shown in the police appeal bears the label 'Royal Stag Superior Whisky' and states that it has an alcohol content of 42.8 per cent by volume and a net quantity of 750 ml.
"The label carries the number 8901522000665 and details identifying Pernod Ricard India Pvt Ltd and Rajasthan Liquors Ltd, along with a Rajasthan manufacturing location and a licence number," officials said.
The police investigation remains underway, with teams continuing efforts to trace the remaining accused and the wider network allegedly involved in the manufacture, transportation and distribution of the duplicate liquor.