CID Expands Pune Hooch Probe, Scans Role of 20 More Suspects
Pune, 10th June 2026: The Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the hooch tragedy that claimed 20 lives in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, has widened its probe and is now examining the role of around 20 additional suspects linked to the illicit liquor network.
So far, 11 accused have been arrested in connection with the tragedy, in which 16 people died in the Phugewadi-Dapodi area of Pimpri Chinchwad and four others in Pune’s Hadapsar locality after allegedly consuming methanol-contaminated liquor. Cases were initially registered at Dapodi and Hadapsar police stations under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prohibition Act before being transferred to the CID.
Among those arrested are alleged kingpin Yogesh Ramchandra Vhankade alias Sikandar Rathod and Radheshyam Prajapati, who is suspected to have manufactured the illicit liquor. Investigators said Vhankade procured bootleg liquor from Prajapati in Uruli Kanchan, mixed it with methanol and distributed it across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
The probe later led to the arrest of Arun Jagdamb Choubey (59) and Abhishek Arun Choubey (34), who allegedly supplied methanol used in the racket.
CID officials said all 11 arrested accused were in police custody till June 10 and that five teams had been formed to trace and investigate the remaining suspects connected to the supply and distribution chain. Mobile phones seized during the investigation have been sent for forensic examination and cloning to gather further evidence.
The investigation has also uncovered alleged lapses by government personnel. Four Pune Rural police constables were recently suspended for allegedly being in contact with key accused Prajapati. Earlier, nine police personnel from Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerates, along with 13 excise department officials, were suspended pending inquiry for alleged failure to curb the illegal liquor trade. The total number of suspended government officials has now risen to 26.
Investigators have also found that Vhankade allegedly purchased methanol through an online business-to-business platform by claiming it was required for manufacturing perfumes. CID officials said the chemical was supplied without adequate verification or mandatory documentation. The agency is also probing allegations that a fake Aadhaar identity was used to procure the methanol.
