MP inspector killed by truck in Dewas liquor raid; driver arrested from Alirajpur
Synopsis
A police inspector died doing his job — intercepting an illegal liquor truck on the Indore-Betul highway — and the driver crushed him under the rear wheel before fleeing. With over 1,800 litres of contraband seized, the CM offering ₹1 crore compensation, and a widening dragnet, the case has put Madhya Pradesh's illegal liquor trade squarely back in the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Inspector Dilip Puri , in-charge of Khategaon police station , was killed on Sunday night, 2 November 2026 after being run over by an Eicher truck during an anti-liquor operation in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh .
The truck driver was arrested from Alirajpur district ; the vehicle bore registration number MP 43 H 4786 .
Police seized more than 1,800 litres of liquor packed in 208 boxes from the truck.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced ₹1 crore financial assistance to Puri's family and a Sub-Inspector appointment for his wife on compassionate grounds.
Inspector General Anurag Singh confirmed multiple suspects linked to liquor smuggling networks have been identified and arrests are ongoing.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Dewas's illegal liquor trade, recently linked to alleged spurious-liquor deaths in Chandana and Binjana villages.
Police in Madhya Pradesh have arrested the driver of an Eicher truck from Alirajpur district in connection with the death of Inspector Dilip Puri, who was run over by the vehicle on Sunday night while attempting to intercept it during an anti-liquor smuggling operation in Dewas district. Puri, the in-charge of Khategaon police station, succumbed to critical injuries after being crushed under the truck's rear wheel.
How the Incident Unfolded
Acting on intelligence about an Eicher truck bearing registration number MP 43 H 4786 allegedly transporting illegal liquor from the Harda side towards Gujarat via Indore, police deployed more than five teams from Khategaon, Kannod, Satwas, and Nemawar police stations at multiple intercept points along the route.
The truck was spotted on the Indore-Betul highway in the Khategaon area. When Inspector Puri approached the vehicle and asked the driver to step down, the driver allegedly reversed course and attempted to flee. Puri fell on the road and was crushed under the rear wheel. He was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Liquor Seizure and Manhunt
The driver abandoned the truck and fled the scene, triggering an immediate search operation. Police subsequently seized the vehicle and recovered more than 1,800 litres of liquor packed in 208 boxes, according to preliminary information. The driver was later traced and arrested from Alirajpur district.
Inspector General of Police Anurag Singh, speaking to reporters, confirmed that several persons linked to liquor smuggling networks and associated with the incident had been identified and were being arrested in a phased manner. 'Last night's incident in Khategaon, Dewas district, is a deeply tragic event in which our Inspector Dilip Puri suffered an untimely and tragic demise. Senior police officials are investigating this incident, and we will get to the bottom of it,' Singh said.
Government Response and Compensation
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over Puri's death and announced financial assistance of ₹1 crore to his family. He further announced that Puri's wife would be given a compassionate appointment as a Sub-Inspector in the state police department — a move reflecting the severity with which the government is treating the loss.
Wider Context: Dewas and the Illegal Liquor Trade
The incident has cast a fresh spotlight on the suspected illegal liquor trade in Dewas district, which has recently been linked to allegations of spurious liquor-related deaths in Chandana and Binjana villages. This is the latest in a pattern of confrontations between law enforcement and bootlegging networks operating along the Madhya Pradesh–Gujarat border corridor, a known smuggling route.
Police said the investigation into Puri's death was continuing and further details were expected to emerge after the arrested driver is formally questioned. More arrests are likely as investigators pursue the wider network.
Point of View
But they sidestep the structural question of why a senior officer was physically confronting a suspected smuggler's truck alone on a highway at night. The Dewas corridor's reputation as a liquor smuggling route is not new — the Chandana and Binjana deaths predate this incident. That repeated intelligence-driven raids have not dismantled the network suggests either enforcement gaps or deeper complicity that the current investigation will need to confront honestly.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Inspector Dilip Puri and how did he die?
Inspector Dilip Puri was the in-charge of Khategaon police station in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. He died on Sunday night, 2 November 2026, after being run over by an Eicher truck whose driver allegedly attempted to flee when Puri approached the vehicle during an anti-liquor smuggling operation on the Indore-Betul highway.
Has the truck driver been arrested?
Yes. The driver of the Eicher truck, bearing registration number MP 43 H 4786, was arrested from Alirajpur district hours after he fled the scene. Police said further arrests of persons linked to the liquor smuggling network are ongoing.
What compensation has the Madhya Pradesh government announced for Inspector Puri's family?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced ₹1 crore in financial assistance to the family of Inspector Dilip Puri. He also announced that Puri's wife will receive a compassionate appointment as a Sub-Inspector in the Madhya Pradesh police.
How much liquor was recovered in the operation?
Police seized more than 1,800 litres of liquor packed in 208 boxes from the abandoned Eicher truck, according to preliminary information released by authorities.
Why is illegal liquor a recurring issue in Dewas district?
Dewas district lies along a known smuggling corridor between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and has recently seen allegations of deaths linked to spurious liquor in Chandana and Binjana villages. Authorities have been conducting intelligence-driven intercept operations in the area, but the trade reportedly continues through organised networks.
