Bhavnagar hooch tragedy: 8 dead, Gujarat minister rules out lifting prohibition
Synopsis
Eight deaths, 19 hospitalised, 13 arrests — and Gujarat's government insisting prohibition stays. The Bhavnagar hooch tragedy has exposed another crack in the state's six-decade liquor ban, with police personnel themselves suspended for negligence. The investigation is now chasing supply-chain links beyond state lines.
Key Takeaways
Eight people died after consuming adulterated liquor in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat ; the incident came to light on 18 August .
19 people remain hospitalised at Sir T Hospital ; 16 others have been discharged after treatment.
Minister Jitu Vaghani ruled out lifting Gujarat's liquor prohibition, calling the government's stance 'clear and unchanged.' Police arrested 13 of 21 accused , including alleged main accused Gautam Solanki and Raees ; courts granted up to 10 days' remand .
Two police Inspectors and around five police personnel , including a Sub-Inspector, suspended for alleged negligence.
The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) and a higher-level probe have both been ordered; investigation may extend to other states.
Eight people have died and 19 others remain hospitalised after consuming adulterated liquor in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, with the state government on 21 August firmly ruling out any rollback of the state's longstanding liquor prohibition. Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani visited Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar to meet patients and review medical arrangements, declaring that prohibition would remain in place without exception.
Minister's Stand on Prohibition
'The state government's position is clear: There is no question of lifting prohibition... not yesterday, not today and not tomorrow,' Vaghani said during his hospital visit. He expressed grief on behalf of the state government, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and said the government stood with the bereaved families.
Vaghani directed hospital authorities to ensure timely treatment with no shortcomings in healthcare services. According to him, 16 people had already been discharged after completing treatment, while 19 others continue to receive care.
Police Action and Arrests
The incident came to light on 18 August, prompting swift police action. Authorities traced 29 people, conducted medical examinations, and provided necessary treatment. Some of the suspected adulterated substance was also recovered after police established where it had been supplied from.
Police have registered cases and arrested 13 of the 21 accused, with courts granting remand of up to 10 days based on police reports. The alleged main accused, Gautam Solanki and Raees, have been arrested, and two additional cases have been registered against them.
Action Against Police Personnel
In a significant accountability measure, the state government has also acted against its own personnel. Two police Inspectors and approximately five police personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, have been suspended based on initial findings of alleged negligence.
Vaghani said the government had ordered an investigation by the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on the same day the incident surfaced, with a higher-level probe also initiated. 'The state government does not want to hide anything. It is deeply concerned and saddened by what has happened,' he said.
Scope of Investigation
Authorities have indicated the investigation will extend beyond Gujarat's borders if necessary. 'The government would pursue the investigation against anyone involved in the manufacture or distribution of the suspected adulterated liquor, including those assisting the accused or having links in other states,' Vaghani said.
This comes amid a pattern of hooch tragedies across prohibition and non-prohibition states alike, raising persistent questions about enforcement gaps. Gujarat has maintained a total liquor ban since 1960, yet illicit liquor networks have repeatedly surfaced, particularly in rural and peri-urban districts. With investigations ongoing and more arrests anticipated, the full scale of the supply chain behind the Bhavnagar tragedy is yet to be established.
Point of View
Yet Bhavnagar is not an isolated incident — illicit liquor deaths recur with troubling regularity across the state. The suspension of police personnel signals that enforcement failure, not just criminal supply, is part of the story. The real accountability question is systemic: how do adulterated liquor networks operate long enough to kill eight people before authorities respond? An SMC probe is a start, but without structural reform of ground-level enforcement — and transparent outcome reporting — these tragedies will keep repeating regardless of the prohibition sign on the statute books.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy?
Eight people died and at least 19 others were hospitalised after consuming adulterated liquor in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. The incident came to light on 18 August, prompting police action and a government-ordered investigation.
Will Gujarat lift its liquor prohibition after the Bhavnagar deaths?
No. Minister Jitu Vaghani categorically ruled out lifting prohibition on 21 August, stating the government's position was 'clear' and that there was 'no question' of withdrawing the ban — now or in the future.
How many people have been arrested in the Bhavnagar hooch case?
Police have arrested 13 of the 21 accused so far, including the alleged main accused Gautam Solanki and Raees. Courts have granted remand of up to 10 days based on police reports, and the investigation is ongoing.
Was any action taken against police in the Bhavnagar hooch case?
Yes. Two police Inspectors and around five other personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, were suspended following initial findings of alleged negligence in connection with the incident.
What investigation has the Gujarat government ordered?
The state government ordered an investigation by the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on the same day the incident surfaced, and has also initiated a higher-level probe. Authorities have said the investigation may pursue links to accused in other states.
