Toll in Mumbai hooch tragedy rises to 84

Shiv Kumar 

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 20

The death toll in Mumbai’s illicit liquor tragedy has risen to 84 with more people being brought to hospital in a critical condition, the police said. So far, another 34 persons are admitted to various hospitals.

The health department officials said all victims were showing signs of methanol poisoning. The police said the bootleggers mixed methanol and some chemicals to the hooch for a stronger kick before selling it to the victims.

A large portion of the stock sold by the bootleggers was yet to be recovered from their customers and the police suspect the number of victims would go up as they consume the booze. The bootleggers were led by one Shankar, alias Raju Langda, and his woman associate Akka, who sourced their moonshine from Vasai-Virar outside Mumbai. Two more persons, Francis Thomas D’Mello and Salim Shaikh, who sourced liquor from Vasai-Virar, have also been held.

The police said the duo also brewed their own hooch from a combination of rotten fruits, vegetables and jaggery, to which were added chemicals and possibly methanol in liberal doses.

The liquor was packed in plastic pouches and sold at Rs 20 each to the slum dwellers. Also in the net are local police officials who were suspected of taking bribe from the bootleggers to allow their business. 

Four officials from the excise department in whose jurisdiction Malvani falls have been suspended. The Maharashtra government has already ordered an inquiry into the incident.