Pune hooch tragedy: 13 dead after toxic liquor in Pimpri-Chinchwad
Synopsis
At least 13 people are dead after drinking methanol-laced country liquor in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad — a tragedy that exposes how illegal liquor networks continue to operate unchecked in two of Maharashtra's most urbanised districts, even as eight accused are now in custody and the Crime Branch has taken over.
Key Takeaways
13 people have died after consuming toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on 29 May 2026 .
The toxic agent was reportedly methanol , mixed into illicit country-made liquor, according to the State Excise Department.
Yogesh Wankhede has been named as the alleged main distributor, operating across Hadapsar and Phugewadi .
Five accused are in police custody; three others are held by the State Excise Department.
An FIR has been registered at Dapodi Police Station under Crime No.
114/2026 invoking BNS Sections 105 and 123.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a thorough probe; the Crime Branch has taken over the investigation.
At least 13 people have died and several others remain in critical condition after allegedly consuming toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, with the incident coming to light on 29 May 2026. The Crime Branch has taken over the investigation as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the illegal liquor network behind the tragedy.
What Happened
Victims from the Pandhare Mala locality in Pune and the Phugewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad reportedly began vomiting and complaining of severe stomach pain within minutes of consuming the liquor. Initially, seven deaths were officially confirmed with three people hospitalised; the toll subsequently climbed to 13. An FIR has been registered at Dapodi Police Station under Crime No. 114/2026, invoking Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 123 (causing hurt by means of harmful substances with intent to commit a crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
The Accused and the Toxic Chemical
Atul Kanade, Superintendent of Police of the State Excise Department, stated that the accused allegedly mixed the toxic chemical methanol into the liquor, directly causing the deaths. Yogesh Wankhede has been named in a separate case at Dapodi Police Station as the alleged main distributor of the toxic liquor, reportedly supplying it across Hadapsar in Pune and the Phugewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad. As of the latest reports, five accused are in police custody and three others are held by the State Excise Department.
Families Recount the Horror
A family member from Pandhare Mala described how five people from the locality were affected, three of them relatives. 'Soon after consuming the liquor, they started vomiting within about 10 minutes and complained of severe stomach pain. This happened yesterday,' the family member said. The daughter of victim Arun Vaman Dadar recounted that her father had consumed country-made liquor regularly. 'He had experienced dizziness four or five times earlier as well, but we never imagined it would become so serious,' she said.
Government Response and Investigation
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious note of the tragedy, directing police commissioners in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to take strict action against those responsible and ensure no one linked to the racket escapes punishment. Vinay Chaube, Police Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad City, confirmed the custodial details and said the probe has been handed to the Crime Branch. Police are now working to identify and apprehend all others connected to the illegal liquor supply chain.
A Recurring Tragedy
Hooch tragedies are not new to Maharashtra or India at large — illicit liquor deaths have periodically claimed lives across states, often in low-income localities where cheap country-made alcohol is the only affordable option. This incident underscores persistent enforcement gaps in the state's prohibition and excise machinery. Authorities are expected to face questions about how a methanol-laced supply chain operated undetected across two major urban jurisdictions.
Point of View
But Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad — is a damning indictment of excise enforcement in cities that host some of India's largest industrial and IT workforces. Methanol adulteration is not accidental; it is deliberate cost-cutting by suppliers who know their buyers have no alternatives. The speed with which eight people were arrested suggests the network was not exactly invisible to local authorities. The harder question — why it was allowed to operate until bodies started appearing — is one that CM Fadnavis's probe must answer, not sidestep.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the deaths in the Pune hooch tragedy?
At least 13 people died after consuming illicit liquor allegedly laced with methanol, a toxic chemical, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on 29 May 2026. Methanol poisoning causes rapid organ failure and can be fatal even in small quantities.
Who has been arrested in the Pune toxic liquor case?
Five accused are in police custody and three others are held by the State Excise Department, totalling eight arrests so far. Yogesh Wankhede has been separately named as the alleged main distributor of the toxic liquor across Hadapsar in Pune and the Phugewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
What action has the Maharashtra government taken?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed police commissioners in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to take strict action and ensure no one escapes punishment. The investigation has been transferred to the Crime Branch for a more thorough probe.
Under which legal sections has the FIR been filed?
The FIR at Dapodi Police Station (Crime No. 114/2026) has been filed under BNS Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 123 (causing hurt by harmful substances with intent to commit a crime), along with relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
Which areas were affected by the toxic liquor deaths?
The deaths were reported from the Pandhare Mala locality in Pune and the Phugewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The alleged distributor reportedly supplied the illicit liquor across Hadapsar in Pune and Phugewadi in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
