Pune: Gas Cutters, Manual Labour Used as PCMC Resumes Demolition of Illegal Phugewadi Structure Linked to Hooch Tragedy Accused on Second Day
Phugewadi, 5th June 2026: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Friday resumed demolition of an illegal residential structure in Phugewadi linked to Karnail Singh Virka, one of the accused arrested in the illicit liquor case connected to multiple deaths in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
The action entered its second day as civic teams continued dismantling the 875 sq ft structure in Sanjaynagar slum using gas cutters, drill machines and manual labour. Officials said heavy machinery could not be deployed as the house is located in a densely populated slum pocket inaccessible to JCBs and other equipment.
A senior PCMC official said the demolition was being carried out cautiously as several adjoining houses are built in close proximity, with some sharing common walls. “The operation has to be executed carefully to ensure that neighbouring structures are not damaged,” the official said, adding that first floor of the house was demolished on the first day of action.
The demolition drive was launched on Thursday by PCMC’s Slum Rehabilitation and Removal Department with support from the H Ward office after occupants were served a 24-hour notice to remove the unauthorised construction.
Investigators suspect the premises was being used for the storage and sale of illicit liquor and believe some victims who died after consuming methanol-contaminated alcohol had procured it from the location.
The operation continued under heavy police security, with civic officials indicating that the demolition would proceed until the entire structure is removed.
