Bhavnagar Hooch Tragedy: 3 Delhi Men Arrested Over Methanol Supply

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Police State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has arrested three Delhi-based men for allegedly supplying methanol used in manufacturing the spurious liquor that claimed 13 lives in Bhavnagar, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 31.

The latest arrests have strengthened the suspected methanol supply chain, with the investigation indicating that the chemical used to make the spurious liquor was sourced from Delhi and brought to Gujarat.

According to the SMC, Delhi resident Pramod Kumar Budakoti allegedly supplied the methanol to two other Delhi residents, Rohit Pradhan and Keshav Jatav, who are suspected of using it illegally to manufacture the spurious liquor.

Investigators alleged that Pradhan and Jatav subsequently arranged for the methanol to be transported through other individuals to a transport company’s godown in Ahmedabad.

The three suspects were arrested with the assistance of the Delhi Police. SMC officials obtained their transit remand and were in the process of bringing them to Gujarat for further questioning.

The case came to light on August 18 after deaths were initially reported under the Vartej police station jurisdiction. Investigators later established that the spurious liquor contained methanol.

Before the latest arrests, 28 accused had been arrested and produced before a court, with police securing their custody for interrogation. The SMC said its investigation is also focused on tracing the network involved in distributing the toxic liquor. DeshGujarat