10 CID Teams Probe Pune Hooch Tragedy; Methanol Supply Chain Uncovered, Multiple Arrests Made

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 2nd June 2026: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Maharashtra has launched a massive, multi-agency crackdown following a deadly illicit country liquor (hooch) tragedy in Pune.

According to the CID, ten specialized investigation teams have been constituted to spearhead a comprehensive probe into the incident, which claimed several lives late last month.

The tragic deaths occurred between May 26 and May 28, 2026, after victims consumed toxic haathbhatti (hand-brewed country) liquor within the jurisdictions of the Dapodi and Hadapsar police stations.

Transfer of Cases to state CID & Severe Charges Filed

Recognizing the gravity of the incident, the Director General of Police transferred the investigations of both primary cases registered on May 29, 2026, to the CID. The cases have been filed under stringent provisions of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and state prohibition laws:

1. Dapodi Police Station (CR No. 914/2026)
BNS (2023) Sections: Section 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 123 (Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), Section 110 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), Section 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), Section 275 (Sale of noxious food or drink), and Section 3(5) (Joint liability / acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Maharashtra Prohibition Act: Sections 65(e), 68, 81, and 83.

2. Hadapsar Police Station (CR No. 379/2026)
BNS (2023) Sections: Sections 105, 123, 110, 125, 275, and 3(5).
Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949: Sections 65, 68, 81, and 83.

Multiple Arrests and Inter-Agency Coordination

The ongoing crackdown has seen synchronized action across multiple state departments, resulting in several key arrests:

Dapodi Police Station Case | 6 Accused | Names withheld under active investigation | Currently under Police Custody Remand (PCR); undergoing active interrogation. |

State Excise Department | 3 Accused | 1. Akash Jadhav (Res. of Hadapsar)2. Irfan Nisar Qureshi (Res. of Pawar Vasti, Dapodi)3. Aryan Sanjay Dhotre (Res. of Gokhlenagar) | Formally being transferred and booked under the CID’s ongoing cases. |

| Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Thane Division | Multiple | Subject of Thane Narpoli PS CR No. 521/2026 | Legal formalities underway to transfer the accused to CID custody. |

The FDA’s case at the Narpoli Police Station (CR No. 521/2026) was registered under BNS Sections 274 and 275, alongside Section 6(a) read with Sections 2 and 6(c) of the Poisons Act, 1919, and Rules 7, 10, 11, 12, and 18(a) of the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972.

The CID is currently coordinating with the Excise Department and the FDA to consolidate all relevant dossiers, files, and physical evidence.

Breakthrough in Methanol Supply Chain & Scientific Investigation

The CID has adopted a highly advanced scientific approach to build an ironclad case against the perpetrators:

Forensic Analysis: Liquid samples collected from the various crime scenes, along with CCTV footage and other material evidence, have been dispatched to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Pune for urgent chemical and technical analysis.

Digital Forensics: Mobile phones seized from the arrested suspects are being analyzed to trace communication logs and financial transactions.

Methanol Chain Disrupted: In a major breakthrough, investigators have traced the supply chain of the lethal methanol used to adulterate the country liquor. Two key suppliers responsible for procuring and distributing the industrial-grade methanol have been identified and are currently being interrogated by the CID.

Public Appeal and Contact Information

The CID has made a public appeal, urging citizens who may have any information regarding the illicit manufacture, distribution, or supply of toxic liquor in these areas to come forward. The investigation is being supervised by senior Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySP) of the CID:

Hadapsar Case (CR No. 379/2026):
Investigating Officer: DySP Shamrao Kable, Crime Investigation Department, Pune.
Contact Number: +91 82372-29208

Dapodi Case (CR No. 914/2026):
Investigating Officer: DySP Sachin Chavan, Crime Investigation Department, Pune.
Contact Number: +91 90113-34580