Before booze killed 12 in Madhya Pradesh, excise department’s many flip-flops

On September 3, a newspaper report raised concerns about a suspected counterfeit-liquor network linked to the Sagar Gold brand. The following day, an official communication was issued to the Government Foreign Liquor Warehouse in Sagar, stating that two bottles of Bombay Whiskey conform to packaging standards and are fit for consumption.

The report, however, was based on examination of the bottles shown in the report, not a wider field investigation. The next day, on September 5, when the first deaths were reported, the excise department's tone changed sharply. An order was issued by the Assistant Excise Commissioner to thoroughly inspect all liquor shops that had received Sagar Gold, specifically directing officials to ensure that Sagar Gold was not sold.

Any suspected stock found was to be immediately sealed and seized, and the liquor was to be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for purity testing. This order was partially revised within hours, with authorities withdrawing stringent directions and stating that "no other action is required." Commissioner Saxena revealed that the suspended officials relied on photographs of the bottles and their features for verification instead of field verification.

He criticized their failure to conduct an inspection in person, noting that the liquor was already being sold and a complaint had come to light. The excise department has now stepped up enforcement across the state, focusing on encouraging people to buy liquor from licensed outlets and taking action where illegal liquor is sold.