Death toll in Malvani liquor tragedy reaches 95

Ramdulhar Kanojia and Harubai Mahapure

The Crime Branch has arrested one more accused in the Malvani illicit liquor tragedy in which 95 people have died so far and 34 are undergoing treatment. The accused will be presented at Esplanade magistrate court today.

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Ramdulhar Kanojia and Harubai Mahapure

According to police, high level of methanol mixed in the alcohol caused the deaths. This adulteration of alcohol usually takes place at Saso Navghar, National Park and remote areas near Film City.

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A police official from Malvani police station, on condition of anonymity, said, "The illicit liquor is supplied to areas including Malvani and Charkop. Some deliveries are picked up from Charkop beach and then sold to shops/bootleggers. Usually women make the deliveries from Charkop beach."

DCP Vikram Deshmane, Zone 11, said, "The police have raided around 35 places in north region and detained more than 40 people." A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, Meena and Veena Acharya from Kharodi village have been arrested.

The State Excise Department suspended two officer and two constables from its Andheri unit for negligence in acting against illicit liquor dens that supplied liquor in Malwani.

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"The suspended officers included Jagdish Deshmukh, excise inspector, sub inspector Rajendra Salunkhe and constables Varsha Vengurlekar and Dhanaji Dalvi, according to Prasad Surve, Director Enforcement and Vigilance, State Excise Department.

Also the State Excise Department's branch in Malvani is just 100 metres from where the liquor was sold, said a state excise officer.

With inputs from Vinay Dalvi, Shiva Devnath, Sailee Dhayalkar and Shirish Vaktania