Pune Hooch Tragedy: Maharashtra CID Intensifies Probe, Formulates Five Teams to Hunt 20 Absconding Suspects
Pune, 9th June 2026: In a major breakthrough following the tragic deaths and hospitalizations caused by the consumption of illicit, poisonous hand-brewed liquor (hooch) in Pune, the Maharashtra State Crime Investigation Department (CID) has significantly intensified its probe.
The agency is currently hunting for approximately 20 absconding suspects and has established dedicated Help Centers in Dapodi and Hadapsar to gather information from the public, assuring absolute confidentiality to informants.
The tragedy unfolded between May 26 and May 28, 2026, when several local residents consumed toxic hand-brewed liquor. Following the incidents, the local police registered two separate cases on May 29, 2026, which have since been transferred to the Pune Unit of the state CID for a high-level inquiry.
Severe Legal Provisions Invoked
The first case (CR No. 118/2026) was registered at the Dapodi Police Station, while the second (CR No. 379/2026) was registered at the Hadapsar Police Station. The accused in both cases have been booked under stringent provisions of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Maharashtra Prohibition Act:
BNS, 2023: Sections 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 123 (Causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit an offence), 110 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 275 (Sale of noxious food or drink), and 3(5) (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Maharashtra Prohibition Act: Sections 65(e), 68, 81, 83, 3(6), 3(7), 3(9), 238, 336, 337, 339, and 340.
According to senior CID officials, 11 primary accused have already been arrested and produced before the court, which has remanded them to police custody until June 10, 2026. To track down the remaining 20 suspects believed to be involved in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of the lethal brew, the CID has constituted five specialized teams.
Forensic and Technical Probe Underway
The CID is deploying advanced technical and forensic capabilities to build an airtight case against the bootleggers. Investigators have seized the mobile phones of the accused, which have been forwarded to the forensic science laboratory for deep-dive examination and data cloning.
Additionally, technical units are conducting exhaustive analyses of the Call Detail Records (CDR) and IP Detail Records (IPDR) of all suspects, while the process of recording statements from key witnesses is progressing rapidly.
Official Public Appeal and Confidential Helplines
The state CID urged citizens to come forward with any relevant information. Specifically, the agency has requested details regarding individuals who may have died or undergone medical treatment after consuming the toxic liquor but whose cases have not yet been officially reported or registered. The CID has explicitly assured that the names of all informants will be kept strictly confidential.
To facilitate the immediate collection of information, the CID has set up two localized Help Centers:
Help Center 1 (Dapodi Area):
Location: Dapodi Police Chowki, Old Pune-Mumbai Road, Dapodi, Pune.
Contact Officer: Sachin Chavan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Pune Unit, CID, Maharashtra State.
Mobile: +91-9011334580
Help Center 2 (Hadapsar Area):
Location: PMC Ward Office No. 4, near the Vegetable Market (Bhaji Mandai), Hadapsar, Pune.
Contact Officer: Shamrao Kale, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Pune Unit, CID, Maharashtra State.
Mobile: +91-8237229208
The entire investigation is being closely monitored and executed under the direct guidance of senior IPS officers: Sunil Ramanand (Additional Director General of Police, CID, Maharashtra State, Pune), Sudhir Hiremath (Special Inspector General of Police, Crime West, CID), and Shafqat Amna (Superintendent of Police, Pune Unit, CID).
The field investigations are being conducted by the Pune CID teams under DySP Sachin Chavan and DySP Shamrao Kale.
