MP cop killed by liquor-smuggling vehicle on Indore-Betul highway in Dewas
Synopsis
A police station in-charge was crushed to death by a suspected liquor-smuggling vehicle in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district — a district already reeling from at least 13 reported spurious liquor deaths in October. The killing has reignited political attacks on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government, with Congress alleging 'mafia raj', and investigators now probing whether the driver deliberately targeted the officer.
Key Takeaways
SHO Dilip Puri of Khategaon police station was fatally run over by a vehicle allegedly carrying illicit liquor on the Indore-Betul highway in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh , on the night of 2 November 2026 .
The driver has been arrested and the liquor-laden vehicle seized ; police are probing whether the officer was deliberately targeted.
Dewas district had already recorded at least 13 suspected spurious liquor deaths between 27 September and 16 October in Chandana and Binjana villages .
Earlier deaths had led to excise official suspensions and transfers of senior district officers following a high-level enquiry.
Congress leader Arun Yadav demanded an explanation from CM Mohan Yadav , alleging the state has become a 'mafia raj' .
A police station in-charge was fatally run over by a vehicle allegedly transporting illicit liquor on the Indore-Betul highway in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, on the night of Sunday, 2 November 2026, police confirmed. The officer, identified as Dilip Puri, Station House Officer (SHO) of Khategaon police station, had led a team to the highway after receiving a tip-off about a vehicle carrying smuggled liquor — and was crushed by it during the interception attempt.
How the Incident Unfolded
Puri reached the highway late Sunday night with his team as part of a targeted anti-smuggling operation. As officers moved to intercept the vehicle, it allegedly drove directly over him, leaving him critically injured. He was subsequently rushed for medical attention but succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
The driver of the vehicle has since been arrested, and the liquor-laden vehicle has been seized. Police are now investigating whether the driver deliberately ran over Puri in an attempt to flee, or whether the death resulted from reckless driving during the escape bid.
A District Already Scarred by the Illicit Liquor Trade
The killing has cast a fresh spotlight on Dewas district's deepening illegal liquor problem. Between 27 September and 16 October, at least 13 people reportedly died in Chandana and Binjana villages after allegedly consuming adulterated liquor. Several others were reported to have suffered severe health complications, including permanent loss of eyesight.
The district administration had initially stated that those deaths could not be conclusively linked to poisonous liquor. A high-level enquiry was subsequently ordered to determine the circumstances behind the fatalities. The episode also triggered administrative action — multiple excise officials were suspended and senior district officials were transferred.
Political Fallout and Congress Reaction
The death of SHO Puri has reignited a political storm. Senior Indian National Congress (Congress) leader Arun Yadav alleged that the incident laid bare a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. 'When even those entrusted with enforcing the law are not safe, who will protect the common people?' he said, demanding an explanation from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and alleging that Madhya Pradesh had become a 'mafia raj'.
The Congress had previously accused the state government of failing to curb the illegal liquor trade following the Chandana-Binjana deaths. Sunday's killing has sharpened those charges, placing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Bhopal on the defensive once again.
What Happens Next
Investigators are expected to examine phone records and vehicle movement logs to determine intent. The arrested driver faces charges that could include culpable homicide depending on what the inquiry establishes. Pressure on the state administration to demonstrate a credible crackdown on the illicit liquor network is likely to mount in the coming days, particularly with the legislative session approaching.
Point of View
Yet the administration initially refused to attribute them to spurious liquor, and disciplinary action came only after political pressure. If front-line officers are being run over while attempting enforcement, it signals either that smuggling networks have grown brazen enough to use lethal force, or that the interdiction machinery is so under-resourced that individual officers are exposed without adequate backup. The BJP government in Bhopal faces a credibility test: accountability measures so far have been reactive, punishing lower-rung excise staff rather than dismantling the supply chain. Without structural enforcement reform, the next tragedy is a matter of when, not if.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was SHO Dilip Puri and how did he die?
Dilip Puri was the Station House Officer of Khategaon police station in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. He was fatally run over by a vehicle allegedly transporting illicit liquor on the Indore-Betul highway during an anti-smuggling operation on the night of 2 November 2026.
Has the driver been arrested?
Yes, the driver of the liquor-laden vehicle has been arrested and the vehicle seized. Police are investigating whether the driver deliberately ran over the officer while attempting to flee, or whether the death was the result of reckless driving.
What is the background of Dewas district's liquor problem?
Dewas district has been at the centre of a major illicit liquor controversy. At least 13 people reportedly died between 27 September and 16 October 2026 in Chandana and Binjana villages after allegedly consuming adulterated liquor. Several others reportedly suffered serious health complications, including loss of eyesight.
What action was taken after the earlier hooch deaths in Dewas?
Following the suspected spurious liquor deaths, the district administration ordered a high-level enquiry after initially stating the deaths could not be conclusively linked to poisonous liquor. Several excise officials were suspended and senior district officials were transferred as part of subsequent administrative action.
What has the political reaction been to SHO Puri's death?
Senior Congress leader Arun Yadav demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, alleging the state had descended into 'mafia raj'. He argued that if law enforcement officers themselves are not safe, ordinary citizens have little protection — sharpening existing charges that the BJP government had failed to control Madhya Pradesh's illegal liquor trade.
