4 more arrested in Bhavnagar hooch tragedy

On August 25 and 26, the Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) arrested four more individuals accused in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy, raising the total number of accused to 31, according to the SMC. The hooch tragedy, caused by the sale of methanol-laced liquor, resulted in 13 deaths and left over 60 people hospitalized.

The SMC began apprehending those involved in the supply chain of the toxic substance, ingredients, and equipment used to brew the drink, package it in 300 bottles of a popular Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand, and sell it to unsuspecting customers in the dry state of Gujarat. The SMC sent teams to investigate the origin of the methanol and other chemicals and how they were transported to Bhavnagar.

These teams arrested the accused individuals involved in supplying the poisonous liquor and the methanol, sources confirmed.

The arrested individuals include Ishwarbha Devrajbha Gadhvi from Kutch, apprehended on August 25, and three others from other states, arrested on August 26. The SMC is in the process of bringing these three suspects to Gujarat using transit warrants. The investigation has revealed that methanol was illegally supplied by Pramodkumar Budakoti, a resident of Delhi, to Rohit Pradhan and Keshav Jatav, both residents of Delhi.

Rohit Pradhan and Keshav Jatav then delivered the methanol to the transport company's godown in Ahmedabad.

The SMC had previously arrested 13 individuals on August 21, one more on August 22, and 13 more, including retail bootleggers, on August 23. One of the main accused, Narendrasinh Yadav, also known as Doctor, died on August 18 after consuming the toxic product. Ongoing investigations are being conducted to uncover further details surrounding the incident.