The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an independent probe into the Sagar spurious liquor tragedy, observing that the state government had already constituted a judicial inquiry commission and taken action against those allegedly responsible. The court directed the petitioner to raise all concerns before the commission.

What the Court Said

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje and Justice Vivek Jain said it was satisfied with the steps already initiated by the state and was therefore not inclined to proceed further with the petition. The bench made clear that any concerns regarding the incident — and the measures required to prevent a recurrence — could be placed before the judicial inquiry commission, which is headed by a retired High Court judge.

Dispute Over the Death Toll

A notable point of contention emerged during the hearing over the number of casualties. The petitioner's counsel cited media reports putting the death toll at 39, while the state government told the court the figure stood at 20. The discrepancy was not resolved in court; the commission is expected to examine such factual disputes as part of its mandate.

Steps Taken by the State

The state government informed the bench that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had visited the affected area following the incident. A judicial inquiry commission was constituted shortly thereafter, and a notification issued on 12 September granted the panel three months to submit its report. Compensation, according to the state's submission, has been paid to families of those who died as well as to individuals who fell ill and were undergoing treatment.

On the law-enforcement front, FIRs were registered against 33 people across two police stations, and around 19 accused have been arrested, the court was told. The incident also triggered a major crackdown by police and excise authorities across the district.

What the PIL Alleged

The PIL alleged systemic lapses in the regulatory mechanism governing the manufacture, distribution, and sale of liquor. It referred to complaints reportedly received in August about counterfeit liquor being sold under the brand names 'Bombay' and 'Sagar Gold', questioning whether inspection, sampling, and verification protocols had been followed. The petitioner called for a broader review of enforcement across the entire supply chain — from manufacture and storage through transportation and retail.

Background: The Tragedy in Sagar

The tragedy unfolded in early September in the Banda and Shahgarh areas of Sagar district after several residents allegedly consumed spurious liquor and developed serious health complications. Multiple victims were hospitalised, and the scale of the incident prompted swift administrative and judicial responses. This comes amid a broader pattern of hooch tragedies in India that have repeatedly exposed gaps in state-level excise enforcement.

With the High Court's order, the petitioner retains the right to formally present all allegations before the judicial commission — including questions about regulatory failure — keeping accountability avenues open as the panel begins its three-month inquiry.