Pune hooch deaths: Fadnavis orders probe, 8 arrested after 13 killed
Synopsis
Thirteen people are confirmed dead — with up to 18 suspected — after drinking methanol-laced hooch in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has personally intervened, calling it murder, ordering zero-leniency action, and setting off a multi-agency crackdown that has already netted eight arrests. The prime suspect is a known bootlegger with a prior criminal record.
Key Takeaways
13 people confirmed dead, up to 18 suspected, after consuming illegal toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad on 29 May 2025 .
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a zero-leniency probe, calling the incident murder , not negligence.
Forensic investigators suspect nearly 215 litres of industrial methanol were mixed into country liquor before distribution.
8 suspects arrested so far; prime suspect is alleged bootlegger Yogesh Wankhede with a prior criminal record.
Joint raids underway by Pune Police , State Excise , and forensic experts ; Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar personally visited affected areas including Hadapsar .
Critically ill survivors are receiving top-priority medical care on the CM's orders.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 29 May ordered a stringent crackdown after 13 people died — and up to 18 fatalities are suspected — following consumption of illegal toxic liquor in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Fadnavis directed the Police Commissioners of both cities to show zero leniency toward everyone involved in manufacturing or distributing the hooch, framing the incident not as negligence but as outright murder.
CM's Direct Intervention
Fadnavis confirmed he has been in direct contact with Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner. He stated that investigators have already pinpointed the exact location where the lethal substance was prepared, and that the most stringent legal sections applicable will be pressed against the accused.
'I have spoken to the Police Commissioners of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. They have identified the exact location where this substance was manufactured. Eight people have been arrested so far, and more arrests are likely. Strict action will be taken against the guilty. This is effectively a murder, and very severe Sections are being applied. No leniency will be shown,' Fadnavis told reporters.
Scale of the Tragedy
The confirmed death toll stood at 13 as of Friday, with police sources indicating the figure could climb to 18 as more cases surfaced across the two municipal zones within a 48-hour window. Forensic investigators suspect that nearly 215 litres of highly toxic industrial methanol were mixed into country liquor before it was distributed. Several survivors remain hospitalised in critical condition, and the Chief Minister has ordered top-priority medical care to prevent further fatalities.
Key Suspect and Arrests
Eight suspects have been arrested so far, with a large-scale search operation ongoing to net others in the distribution chain. The prime focus of interrogation is alleged bootlegger Yogesh Wankhede, who carries a prior criminal record and is suspected of supplying the lethal batches to both locations. Families and local residents have confirmed that the deaths are linked to cheap liquor dens in the affected areas.
Multi-Agency Crackdown
Following the Chief Minister's directive, joint raids have been launched by teams comprising the Pune Police, State Excise department, and forensic experts. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar personally visited affected pockets including Hadapsar to oversee ground operations. A detailed forensic review of medical reports is underway to build a legally airtight case against the hooch suppliers.
What Happens Next
Authorities are expected to file charges under sections carrying maximum penalties, given the CM's explicit instruction to treat the deaths as murder rather than accidental negligence. More arrests are anticipated as interrogation of the eight detained suspects progresses. The incident has reignited scrutiny of illicit liquor networks operating across Maharashtra's urban districts, where hooch tragedies have recurred despite periodic crackdowns.
Point of View
But the harder question is systemic: how did a 215-litre methanol consignment move through two major municipal zones undetected? Maharashtra has seen recurring hooch tragedies, and each time the response is arrests and rhetoric rather than a structural dismantling of the supply chain. The real accountability test is not how many bootleggers are charged, but whether the excise and police officials who allowed the network to operate face any scrutiny at all.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Pune hooch tragedy on 29 May 2025?
At least 13 people died and up to 18 fatalities are suspected after consuming illegal liquor laced with industrial methanol in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The deaths occurred across two municipal zones within a 48-hour period, prompting a high-level intervention by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
What action has CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered?
Fadnavis has directed the Police Commissioners of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad to take the strictest possible action with zero leniency. He has explicitly instructed that the case be treated as murder rather than negligence, ensuring the most stringent legal sections are applied to all accused.
Who is the prime suspect in the Pune hooch case?
The prime suspect is alleged bootlegger Yogesh Wankhede, who has a prior criminal record and is suspected of supplying the lethal batches to both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Eight people have been arrested so far, and more arrests are expected.
What substance was found in the illegal liquor?
Forensic investigators suspect that approximately 215 litres of highly toxic industrial methanol were mixed into country liquor before distribution. The manufacturing location has been identified by police following the CM's directive.
Is this the first such hooch tragedy in Maharashtra?
No. Maharashtra has witnessed several hooch-related mass casualties in the past, particularly in urban and peri-urban districts. Despite periodic crackdowns, illicit liquor networks have continued to operate, making this latest incident part of a recurring pattern that authorities have struggled to eliminate.
