Twelve people have died in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh after suspected consumption of spurious liquor, including 3 deaths reported late on Saturday. Another 25 patients are being treated in hospitals as police investigate the suspected sale and distribution network.
Of the hospitalised patients, 17 are at Sagar District Hospital, 7 at Banda Civil Hospital and one at AIIMS Bhopal after being airlifted. Around 35 people have been brought to hospitals, and some patients are reported to be in serious condition.
Police cases and investigation
Police have registered named cases against 30 people. The Banda police station case includes 20 accused, of whom 10 have been taken into custody. The remaining accused are being traced. A separate case names 10 people at Vinayak police station.
The charges include BNS sections 105, 3(5) and 123, along with Section 49-A of the Excise Act. Under the direction of SP Anurag Sujania, investigators are examining the alleged manufacture, supply and sale of illegal liquor. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.
Initial police findings have raised suspicion that the liquor was supplied from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. Some people have been detained for questioning, while investigators are gathering information about individuals linked to the suspected network in Lalitpur.
5 officers suspended
5 excise and police officials have been suspended over alleged negligence. They are Assistant Excise Commissioner Kirti Dubey, District Excise Officer Dilip Khandate, Banda Excise Sub-Inspector Roshni Urete, Gugra outin-charge ASI Puran Singh and Banda police station in-charge Rajendra Kushwaha.
Neeraj Srivastava, who headed the divisional flying squad, has been attached to the Gwalior headquarters. As a precaution, 7 liquor shops were sealed in Barethi, Banda, Shahgarh, Magardha, Vinayaka, Dalpatpur and Baraytha. Officials are collecting samples from the shops for examination.
Suspected methyl alcohol exposure
Collector Pratibha Pal said the affected villages are Nauroja and Ghughra Khurd. Information about people falling ill after suspected consumption of spurious liquor was received at about 4:30 am on Saturday. Medical teams then began screening residents in the affected villages.
Patients showing symptoms are being referred to Bundelkhand Medical College in Sagar. Separate beds have been arranged there for suspected cases. The administration has also reviewed treatment arrangements for patients in hospitals.
Pal said -mortem examinations of 2-3 bodies raised the possibility of methyl alcohol consumption. Some patients developed bluish discolouration of the body and stiffness, while vomiting, headache and fever were also reported as symptoms. People showing such symptoms have been asked to reach the nearest health centre for examination.
Officials visit affected villages
The Sagar commissioner, inspector general, collector and superintendent of police visited Nauroja and Ghughra Khurd after the deaths. They met families of the victims and reviewed arrangements for patients receiving treatment.
A relative, Ramkumar Dangi of Bamhurabeda, said 4 people from the village had died, including his cousin. He claimed that 3 people drank liquor together, after which their bodies suddenly became cold and they died within about half an hour. This account is part of the ongoing investigation.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said, before leaving for Dubai, that he had directed the minister in charge and officials to investigate the incident immediately. He said the government would not tolerate such cases and that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
Political reactions
Congress state president Jitu Patwari criticised the government in a on X, saying his party had previously raised the issue of alleged official protection for the spurious liquor trade in Sagar. He questioned who was protecting the liquor mafia and why it was operating without fear.
Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar met patients and their relatives at Sagar Medical College and sought information about their condition. He described the reports of patients turning blue and dying within a short period as alarming, and called the incident a serious case involving illegal liquor and administrative negligence.
Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha said the government system had failed and called for every possible effort to save seriously ill patients. Former Banda Congress MLA Tarvar Singh Lodhi demanded a murder case against those responsible and compensation of Rs 1 crore for each deceased person. He also claimed that thousands of people had consumed the liquor during the previous 3-4 days.
Conclusion
The Sagar case has led to 12 deaths, 25 hospital admissions, criminal cases against 30 named accused and the suspension of 5 officials. Testing of liquor samples and the police investigation into the suspected Lalitpur supply link will determine the next findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many people have died in the Sagar liquor case?
Twelve people have died after suspected consumption of spurious liquor in Sagar district.
Q. How many patients are hospitalised?
Twenty-5 patients are hospitalised: 17 at Sagar District Hospital, 7 at Banda Civil Hospital and one at AIIMS Bhopal.
Q. How many accused have been named?
Police have registered cases against 30 named accused in Banda and Vinayak.
Q. How many people have been detained?
Police have taken 10 accused into custody in the Banda case, while other accused are being searched for.
Q. Why were liquor shops sealed?
7 liquor shops were sealed as a precaution while officials collected samples for testing.
Q. What substance is suspected in the liquor?
-mortem examinations of 2-3 bodies raised suspicion of methyl alcohol consumption.
Q. Where may the liquor have come from?
Initial investigation has raised suspicion that the supply came from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Q. Which officials were suspended?
5 excise and police officials were suspended over alleged negligence, including the assistant excise commissioner, the district excise officer and officials from Banda and Gugra.
