Gujarat hooch tragedy ‘co-mastermind’ arrested from Rajasthan

The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of the Gujarat Police apprehended Ladu Lal alias Ganesh Shyamlal Kharol, a 22-year-old resident of Bhilwara, Rajasthan, on September 30. Kharol is accused of being the co-mastermind behind the hooch tragedy in Bhavnagar that killed 13 people in August due to their consumption of methanol-laced liquor.

He was arrested with assistance from the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and brought to Gujarat on a transit warrant. Kharol, along with mastermind Gautam Solanki, planned to make the spurious liquor at Solanki's residence in Bhavnagar, with Kharol responsible for acquiring the necessary items. After realizing several people had died after consuming the tainted liquor, Kharol fled the state and contacted other accused individuals to destroy evidence, including their phones.

The tragedy, which occurred in a dry state where the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol are banned, resulted in 13 deaths and around 40 hospitalizations. Gujarat Police had previously arrested 21 individuals on August 19, 13 more on August 23, and 13 additional people, including retail bootleggers, on August 23. This was followed by arrests on August 25, August 26, and September 7, bringing the total count of those apprehended to 39.

Manjeet Singh Krishanchandra Saini, one of the main accused, who allegedly made fake bills for the methanol used in the toxic drink, died on August 18 after consuming the same brew.