Gujarat hooch tragedy: Death toll hits 7 in Bhavnagar; 4 cops suspended, 21 booked
Synopsis
A batch of methanol-laced liquor disguised in Royal Stag bottles — traced from Ujjain to Kharakdi village — has killed seven people in Gujarat's dry state of Bhavnagar. With 38.59% methanol detected in a seized sample, four cops suspended, and 21 accused booked, the case exposes a cross-state illicit liquor network operating under Gujarat's prohibition regime.
Key Takeaways
Seven people have died and 25 to 28 remain under hospital treatment following consumption of spurious liquor in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat .
An FIR was registered on 19 August at Vartej Police Station against 21 accused from Kharakdi, Vartej, Ujjain and other areas.
Accused are charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Prohibition Act .
A seized bottle labelled 'Royal Stag' tested at 38.59% methanol and only 0.94% ethanol — concentrations consistent with acute methanol poisoning.
Four local police personnel have been suspended in connection with the incident.
The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) is now involved as investigators work to trace the full distribution network.
Seven people have died and 25 to 28 others remain hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, police confirmed on Thursday, 20 August. An FIR has been registered against 21 accused, and four local police personnel have been suspended in connection with the manufacture, sale, and distribution of chemically contaminated liquor.
What Happened in Kharakdi Village
The case emerged after people who consumed liquor at gatherings in and around Kharakdi village in Ghogha taluka began falling seriously ill. Several victims reportedly developed symptoms including vomiting and breathing difficulties before being admitted to hospitals in Bhavnagar. The FIR was registered at Vartej Police Station on 19 August.
Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey confirmed the casualties. 'Seven people have died. At least 25 to 28 are currently receiving treatment. Four cops are suspended in the incident,' he said.
The Adulterated Liquor Trail
According to the FIR, the liquor was originally brought from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and subsequently adulterated before being distributed across Bhavnagar and surrounding areas. The contaminated stock was found in bottles carrying the 'Royal Stag' label. Chemical analysis of one seized bottle recorded a methanol concentration of 38.59 per cent and an ethanol concentration of just 0.94 per cent — a ratio that is acutely toxic to humans. Methanol was also detected in samples collected from several victims, including Upendrasinh Gohil and Kartikbhai Makwana, according to the FIR.
Who Has Been Booked
The 21 accused named in the FIR hail from Kharakdi, Vartej, Ujjain, and other parts of Bhavnagar district. They have been charged under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Prohibition Act. Investigators allege that different members of the network were responsible for procuring the liquor, adulterating the stock, and distributing it through various channels.
Investigation and Next Steps
The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has been brought into the investigation as authorities work to map the full supply chain and trace any remaining adulterated stock. Police are continuing to probe the source of the liquor and the extent of its distribution. This comes amid Gujarat's longstanding status as a prohibition state, raising questions about enforcement gaps that allowed a cross-state liquor network to operate undetected. Notably, hooch tragedies have recurred in Gujarat despite the prohibition regime, underscoring persistent challenges in curbing illicit liquor supply chains.
Point of View
Yet hooch tragedies recur with grim regularity — and this case is particularly damning. The liquor crossed state lines from Ujjain, was adulterated locally, and reached consumers in bottles bearing a legitimate brand label, suggesting a supply chain sophisticated enough to evade multiple enforcement layers. The suspension of four police personnel points to either complicity or catastrophic negligence. The real question is not just who adulterated the liquor, but how a cross-state network operated in a prohibition district long enough to build a distribution chain spanning Kharakdi, Vartej, and beyond. Without structural accountability — not just suspensions — the cycle will repeat.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have died in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy?
Seven people have died as of 20 August, according to Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey. An additional 25 to 28 people were receiving hospital treatment at the time of the update.
What made the liquor in the Bhavnagar case so deadly?
Chemical analysis of a seized bottle found a methanol concentration of 38.59 per cent and an ethanol concentration of just 0.94 per cent. Methanol, even in small quantities, causes severe poisoning, blindness, and death — and was also detected in samples taken from several victims.
Who has been arrested or booked in the Bhavnagar hooch case?
An FIR has been registered against 21 accused from Kharakdi, Vartej, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, and other parts of Bhavnagar district. They face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Prohibition Act for allegedly manufacturing, adulterating, and distributing the contaminated liquor.
Why were police personnel suspended in the Bhavnagar hooch case?
Four local police personnel were suspended in connection with the incident, though the specific grounds for each suspension have not been publicly detailed beyond their link to the case. Their suspension signals that authorities are examining possible enforcement failures.
How did the adulterated liquor reach Bhavnagar?
According to the FIR, the liquor was originally sourced from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, then adulterated locally and distributed in Bhavnagar and surrounding areas in bottles carrying the 'Royal Stag' label. Police are still working to establish the complete supply chain.
