Viscera samples from individuals who died under suspicious circumstances in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district have been dispatched to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination, with the precise cause of death yet to be established, an official confirmed on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The development comes as allegations of illicit liquor consumption continue to swirl around the deaths reported across two villages in Dewas over the past several weeks.

What Officials Have Said

Dewas Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar, who is also serving as the officiating Collector, told reporters that the viscera samples had been formally submitted to the FSL for technical analysis. 'Further action will be taken in accordance with the law based on the findings of the FSL report. Confirmation on whether the consumed liquor was poisonous will only be possible once the technical report from the FSL is released,' he said.

Separately, Dewas Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Abhishek Sharma had, on Friday, described reports claiming that 15 to 20 people died from spurious liquor in Chandana village as 'misleading' and 'baseless', stating that the investigation had not confirmed any deaths due to spurious liquor. Dewas Collector Ritu Raj and Excise department officials had not issued a separate statement as of Saturday night.

Opposition Allegations and Political Response

The deaths have sparked a sharp political row. The Indian National Congress (INC) has alleged that illicit liquor is being sold on a large scale across Madhya Pradesh under the protection of officials and those in power. A Congress delegation visited Dewas and met the families of the deceased, demanding accountability from the state government.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari alleged that nearly 22 deaths had been confirmed over approximately a month, while the state government and administration were reporting only 10 to 12 deaths. He also claimed that at least 40 people had lost their eyesight, accusing the administration of acknowledging only a handful of such cases. Patwari said the issue 'was not about Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but concerned the lives of people.'

Broader Pattern Alleged Across the State

Former Minister Arun Yadav, who met the affected families, alleged that incidents involving illicit and poisonous liquor in Sagar, Chhindwara, Balaghat, and Dewas — following an earlier tragedy in Morena — indicated that a liquor mafia was operating under official protection across the state. He further cited deaths linked to contaminated water in Indore's Bhagirathpura area and a cough syrup tragedy in Chhindwara, alleging a pattern of administrative failure.

According to Yadav, deaths linked to spurious liquor had also been reported in Sagar and Morena, yet the problem had persisted without meaningful state intervention.

What the FSL Findings Could Determine

The FSL report is expected to establish whether toxic substances were involved in the deaths, and will serve as the basis for any further legal action. Until the technical findings are released, the cause of the deaths — and the broader question of whether illicit liquor was responsible — remains officially unconfirmed. The findings are likely to shape both the criminal investigation and the political narrative around the Dewas deaths.