A suspected illicit liquor racket in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district has turned deadly, with six people reported dead and 25 others hospitalised after consuming liquor allegedly contaminated with highly toxic methanol. The deaths have triggered a wider investigation into the manufacturing and distribution network behind the liquor.
The suspected spurious liquor was sold in bottles carrying fake “Royal Stag” labels and was allegedly manufactured and distributed through a network of bootleggers. Police have registered a case naming 21 accused persons, while the investigation has now been taken over by the State Monitoring Cell (SMC).
The incident came to light after 25-year-old Upendrasingh Gohil, a resident of Kharkadi village in the Ghogha taluka, died at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar on Tuesday. He had reportedly attended a gathering in Kharkadi on August 16, where he consumed the suspected liquor.
Six deaths, 25 people hospitalised
According to the investigation, several people from different parts of Bhavnagar district consumed the liquor and later developed serious health problems.
Those affected reportedly experienced symptoms including breathing difficulties and loss of vision. Doctors also warned that some patients could develop kidney-related complications.
Among those affected was Vishvaraj Singh, who had reportedly attended the gathering with Upendrasingh Gohil. He remains in critical condition at Arham Hospital in Bhavnagar.
Police have also identified the deaths of 40-year-old Kartik Makwana and 50-year-old Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja as being linked to the suspected liquor.
The authorities are investigating whether the deaths are connected to more than one batch of illicit liquor.
Laboratory test finds 38.59% methanol
A bottle recovered from the scene was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar for examination.
The laboratory analysis found 38.59% methanol by volume, compared with only 0.94% ethanol in the tested liquor.
The finding has strengthened the investigation into whether the liquor was deliberately produced using methanol, a highly toxic industrial chemical that can cause severe poisoning and death if consumed.
Blood samples of 10 people named in the FIR were also tested for methanol.
The highest concentration was reportedly recorded in the blood sample of Abhay Dihora, at 0.1408% W/V.
The blood sample of Upendrasingh Gohil, one of the people who died, contained 0.0773% methanol, while Kartik Makwana’s sample contained 0.0847%. Methanol levels in the remaining samples ranged from 0.0144% to 0.1060%.
Police uncover a wider manufacturing network
Investigators allege that the liquor was not simply collected and sold locally but was part of an organised manufacturing and distribution chain.
According to the FIR, one of the accused, Gautam Solanki, allegedly told investigators that he and his associate Zuber from Ujjain travelled to Ahmedabad to obtain raw materials.
These materials allegedly included empty bottles, bottle caps, stickers and methanol.
Police suspect the group initially manufactured around 51 boxes of illicit liquor, which were then supplied through local channels.
Investigators believe this earlier batch was sold around 15 days before the latest deaths and illnesses. They are now checking whether anyone who consumed that batch also died or suffered serious health problems.
Second batch allegedly produced after earlier failure
The investigation has also uncovered allegations about a second production attempt.
According to the FIR, an earlier attempt resulted in a poor-quality liquor batch that was destroyed. Investigators allege that the group then brought Narendra Singh Yadav, also known as Doctor, from Madhya Pradesh to Bhavnagar to help with the manufacturing process.
The group allegedly produced another 25 boxes of methanol-laced liquor, which were subsequently distributed among bootleggers and consumers in Bhavnagar.
Police sources said Yadav was later admitted to Ved Hospital on August 17 after falling ill following consumption of some of the liquor. He died on August 18.
His alleged role and whether he had tested the liquor before it was distributed are now part of the investigation.
Police recruitment connection emerges
One of the affected individuals has also been identified as a person connected with police recruitment.
Vishvaraj Singh, who is in critical condition, was reportedly selected for recruitment into the police force. Investigators said he remains under treatment at Arham Hospital.
The case has therefore raised concerns not only over the supply of poisonous liquor but also over the wider network of people involved in its production and distribution.
Police allege liquor was knowingly sold
The FIR reportedly describes the substance as liquor, although the manufacturing process allegedly involved methanol and other raw materials.
Police have accused the group of continuing to manufacture and sell the liquor despite allegedly knowing that it could cause serious harm or death.
The suspected liquor was reportedly filled into bottles carrying fake Royal Stag labels and sold as Indian-made foreign liquor.
Investigators are also examining how the fake labels were obtained and how the bottles reached consumers.
Investigation into an earlier batch
Authorities are now looking beyond the latest deaths.
Police sources said an earlier batch of approximately 51 boxes had been manufactured and sold. Investigators are checking whether that batch may have caused deaths or serious illnesses around 15 days before the present incident.
This could help investigators determine how long the suspected manufacturing operation had been active and how many people may have been exposed to the contaminated liquor.
State Monitoring Cell takes over
The incident initially came to the attention of authorities after the deaths and hospitalisations were reported. Questions were subsequently raised over an alleged delay in police reporting.
The State Monitoring Cell has now taken over the investigation.
The Gujarat DGP has said the probe will examine not only the role of the alleged bootleggers but also whether there was any negligence by local police personnel.
Bhavnagar district collector Manish Kumar Bansal said the administration learnt about the incident around 6 pm on Tuesday and that affected people had been identified across different parts of the district.
What investigators are now checking
The investigation is expected to focus on several links in the suspected network, including:
Who supplied the methanol and other raw materials.
Who manufactured the liquor.
Who arranged the bottles, caps and fake labels.
How the liquor was distributed among local sellers.
Whether the earlier 51-box batch caused additional deaths or illnesses.
The alleged role of Narendra Singh Yadav alias Doctor.
Whether the accused knew the liquor contained dangerous levels of methanol.
Whether there was any negligence or failure in the local police response.
With six deaths and 25 people hospitalised, the case has developed into a major investigation into the manufacture and circulation of suspected methanol-contaminated illicit liquor in Bhavnagar. Authorities are now tracing the entire supply chain to determine how the toxic liquor was produced, who handled it and how it reached consumers.
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