Pune, 29th May 2026: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday took cognisance of the alleged deaths linked to consumption of spurious liquor in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, calling the incident “an act of murder” and directing police to take strict action against those involved.
“Do not spare anyone. Take stringent action,” Fadnavis said while instructing the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioners to intensify the probe.
According to officials, five persons died in the Hadapsar area while nine deaths were reported from Pimpri Chinchwad, taking the total toll in the suspected illicit liquor case to 14. Police have so far arrested eight persons in connection with the case.
The Chief Minister said the incident was not merely accidental but a criminal act, adding that investigations were underway to identify the entire network behind the manufacture and supply of the toxic liquor. He said more arrests were likely and stringent sections of law would be invoked against the accused.
Police have detained the alleged key accused, Yogesh Wankhede, who is suspected to have procured ethanol from Mumbai and used it to manufacture the spurious liquor without authorisation.
Investigators said the liquor was allegedly supplied to vendors operating in Dapodi, Hadapsar and Chatushrungi areas.
Late Thursday night, police also detained Colonel Singh Virka alias Sardarji his wife Inderjit Virka and their son Gurucharan alias Vicky Virka. Preliminary investigation suggests the family was allegedly selling liquor directly from their residence and supplying it to multiple local vendors.
Officials from the state excise department said action was initiated immediately after information about the suspected spurious liquor distribution surfaced.
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