Aman Kasliwal, 27, an Indore-based businessman and son of Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anand Jain Kasliwal, has been arrested for allegedly supplying a chemical to Ajay Rathore, who is accused of manufacturing and distributing spurious liquor linked to deaths in Chandana village, Dewas district. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Aman under the Excise Act, as the case intensifies an already charged political confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh.

What Led to the Arrest

According to police, the Kasliwal family firm reportedly supplied 220 litres of paint thinner to a customer on 1 October, with the substance duly listed in the invoice and the goods consignment receipt. Investigators allege that this chemical was subsequently used by Rathore and his associate Govind in the manufacture of illicit liquor. The precise identity of the chemical supplied will be confirmed only after laboratory tests, police said.

Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang had earlier alleged that Rathore and Govind told investigators they purchased thinner from Aman, directly linking the Congress spokesperson's family to the supply chain. However, it must be noted that these remain allegations under investigation and no guilt has been established in court.

Congress Denies Wrongdoing

Reacting sharply to his son's arrest, Anand Kasliwal alleged that Aman was being framed. He argued that a supplier could not be held legally responsible for the misuse of a legitimately sold product by a buyer. 'If a person takes goods from an establishment and misuses them, can the seller be held legally responsible for it?' he asked. Kasliwal maintained that his family had no knowledge that the accused were allegedly using any chemical to manufacture spurious liquor.

BJP Claims Prompt Government Action

BJP MLA Manoj Choudhary said a total of 10 accused have been arrested in the case so far. He cited the transfer of the Superintendent of Police and the Collector, along with the suspension of the District Excise Officer, as evidence of the state government's swift response. 'These were immediate decisions taken by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to ensure that whenever there is any lapse or wrongdoing, prompt action is taken so that officials remain vigilant in the future,' Choudhary said.

Earlier on Thursday, BJP leaders had accused the Congress of conspiring to defame the government over the hooch deaths, pointing to the alleged connection between the main accused and the Congress spokesperson's family.

Political Fallout and Accountability Demands

The illicit liquor deaths in Chandana have ignited a broader political firestorm in Madhya Pradesh. The Opposition has questioned the Mohan Yadav administration's handling of the fatalities and demanded a thorough probe into the supply chain, possible administrative lapses, and the role of those allegedly involved. This comes amid a pattern of hooch tragedy controversies across Indian states that repeatedly expose gaps in excise enforcement and regulatory oversight.

With the investigation still ongoing and laboratory tests yet to confirm the nature of the chemical involved, further developments in the case are expected to keep the political temperature in Madhya Pradesh elevated in the days ahead.