Gujarat hooch tragedy arrests rise to 27, key accused from Madhya Pradesh held

Gujarat Police have arrested 13 more people in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy that killed 13 last week, taking the total number of arrests to 27. Among those held is Anand Chhandi, a Madhya Pradesh resident who allegedly played a major role in manufacturing the spurious liquor containing methanol. The State Monitoring Cell teams have fanned out across five states, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, to gather evidence and trace the source of methanol and other chemicals.

The toxic liquor, packed in bottles carrying a popular IMFL brand label, contained 38.59% methanol and 0.94% ethanol, according to the Forensic Science Laboratory report. The hooch was allegedly prepared at the house of Gautam Solanki in Bhavnagar's Vartej area with the help of Raees, who was arrested from Ujjain. Three friends consumed the liquor on August 16, leading to the first death, and more fatalities followed as victims were hospitalised with severe complications. The accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prohibition Act on charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.