After 9 Cops, 13 Excise Personnel Suspended in Pune Hooch Tragedy Probe; Death Toll Reaches 19
Pune, 30th May 2026: A day after police officials were suspended in connection with the illicit liquor tragedy that claimed 19 lives in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the State Excise Department has suspended 13 of its personnel for alleged negligence in the case.
The action was taken by the Superintendent of the State Excise Department against officials posted in the Pune division. Those suspended include three excise inspectors, six sub-inspectors and four other employees. The department cited dereliction of duty and failure to act against illegal liquor activities in areas where the deaths occurred.
The spurious liquor tragedy has so far claimed 19 lives in Pune’s Hadapsar area and the Phugewadi locality of Pimpri Chinchwad, while several others remain hospitalised and are undergoing treatment.
The suspensions come amid a wider crackdown by authorities. Earlier, Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioners had initiated disciplinary action against police personnel allegedly responsible for lapses in monitoring illegal liquor operations.
In Pune city, three police officers were suspended in connection with the Hadapsar hooch tragedy. Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Mogale, Assistant Police Inspector Hasina Shikalgar, who was in charge of the concerned police outpost, and Police Sub-Inspector Hasan Mulani from the crime detection unit were suspended for alleged negligence. Ashok Ipper was subsequently appointed as the officer in charge of Hadapsar police station.
In Pimpri Chinchwad, Police Inspector Vijay Waghmare of Dapodi police station, the head of the investigation team and four other personnel were suspended. Crime Branch Police Inspector Narendra Thakare was transferred to the police control room as part of the action.
Authorities have maintained that the suspensions were ordered due to alleged lapses in duty. However, with the death toll rising to 19, questions continue to be raised over how illegal liquor manufacturing and distribution operations were allowed to function and what punishment will ultimately be imposed on those responsible for the tragedy.
