Will seek fast track trial of Mumbai hooch case: Devendra Fadnavis

All the accused in the last month's Mumbai hooch tragedy in which 104 people were killed have been booked under IPC section 302 (murder) and the case will be tried in fast track court, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday.

Devendra Fadnavis. Pic/PTI

"We will request the High Court to try the case on fast track with day-to-day hearing," Fadnavis said. Replying to a discussion on the hooch tragedy in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly through a Calling Attention notice, Fadnavis said the prosecution will build a strong case in which capital punishment will be sought for the accused.

Nine police personnel and four excise officials in the Malwani area of Mumbai have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the case. Fadnavis said more than 80 per cent methanol was found in the spurious liquor seized from the accused. "This means that the spurious liquor owner was deliberately selling poison," he said, adding, search for some more accused was still on.

To crack down on illicit breweries, the government has decided that police and excise officials whose passive involvement is proved will be dismissed from service while those directly involved will be made co-accused, he said. The Chief Minister said that the government has helped 70 families out of the 104 dead on humanitarian grounds and the remaining families will also be provided assistance.

"We are being criticised for giving assistance to those who consume illicit liquor. But we are helping the families on humanitarian grounds because they have lost their sole bread winner," he said.

Fadnavis also said that women will be included in the sensitisation programme against illicit liquor trade.