Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Friday, 29 May vowed that those responsible for the deaths of 12 people after consuming spurious liquor in Pune's Hadapsar and Pimpri-Chinchwad's Dapodi-Phugewadi areas will not be spared, calling the tragedy 'extremely unfortunate.' She directed the administration to conduct a thorough, deep-rooted investigation into the incident.

Key Developments

Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar personally contacted Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey, along with State Excise Department officials and local administration, issuing clear directives to identify the source of the illicit liquor and take stringent action against all those involved.

'So far, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with this case. A joint investigation by the Police and the Excise Department is currently underway to trace the source of the illicit liquor supply and identify all accomplices involved,' Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar said.

NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar's On-Ground Response

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar, accompanied by enraged party workers, stormed an illegal liquor unit in Hadapsar and vandalised it, personally demolishing the counter of the establishment while workers tore apart tin roofs, completely razing the structure. The group subsequently vandalised other liquor sale points in the vicinity after meeting the grieving families of the victims.

'Those responsible for this mass slaughter must face the strictest possible action,' Rohit Pawar said.

Political Fallout and Allegations of a Cover-Up

The incident has sharply raised political temperatures across Maharashtra. Rohit Pawar launched a scathing attack on law enforcement, alleging that the police were shielding the main accused. 'When asked, the police claim they still don't know the exact cause of death. It is obvious that the police are trying to shield someone. An accused was deliberately made to surrender just to stall any further investigation, ensuring that the main mastermind — the 'big fish' — can walk away scot-free,' he alleged.

This comes amid a broader pattern of hooch tragedies in Maharashtra, with illicit liquor deaths recurring periodically in peri-urban pockets where enforcement of excise regulations remains inconsistent.

Investigation Status and What Comes Next

A joint Police-Excise Department probe is underway to map the supply chain of the spurious liquor. With eight arrests made so far, officials have been directed to trace all accomplices and dismantle the network. The Deputy CM's direct intervention signals that the state government is under pressure to demonstrate accountability, particularly as opposition voices grow louder demanding answers on the role of local enforcement agencies.