The Maharashtra Legislative Council descended into uproar on Thursday, 25 June over the spurious liquor tragedy in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with the Opposition demanding accountability and the ruling alliance accusing rivals of politicising the deaths of 22 people killed by toxic alcohol. The session exposed deep fault lines over the state's handling of an illegal liquor network that, according to Opposition members, had been operating unchecked for years.

What Triggered the Council Uproar

BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe moved a calling attention motion demanding immediate financial assistance for the families of the deceased. Opposition MLCs Sachin Ahir, Ambadas Danve, and Anil Parab of Shiv Sena (UBT) raised serious doubts about the official death toll, alleging that several victims had been cremated without post-mortem examinations — suggesting the actual casualty count could be higher than acknowledged. They pointed to illegal liquor dens that had reportedly been operating for years in areas including Hadapsar, Dapodi, Bopodi, and Fugewadi.

Key Demands from the Opposition

Opposition members called for strict action against senior officials in both the police and the excise department. They specifically demanded that charges of culpable homicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) be pressed against the alleged kingpins, Yogesh Wankhede and Radheshyam Prajapati, rather than limiting prosecution to the Excise Act. They also demanded a thorough investigation into how 215 litres of lethal methanol was transported from Bhiwandi to Pune.

What the Government Said

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam assured the House that the government was not shielding anyone. He confirmed that multiple officials — including a Senior Police Inspector, an Assistant Police Inspector, a Police Sub-Inspector, and inspectors and sub-inspectors from the Excise Department — had already been suspended. He added that BNS provisions relating to culpable homicide had already been invoked against the accused. Minister Kadam also said the government was seriously exploring the invocation of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the prime accused, given indications that the operation involved an organised crime network.

Political Flashpoint Over High-Level Visits

The session turned chaotic when Sachin Ahir questioned why neither the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Ministers, nor the Guardian Minister had visited the victims' families. Minister Kadam countered that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had demonstrated the government's seriousness by ordering a CID probe, and that Minister Girish Mahajan, along with local representatives, had visited the site. Dissatisfied with the response, Opposition members broke into slogans. Industries Minister Uday Samant further inflamed tensions by questioning why the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and the Yuva Sena chief had not visited the site themselves. Chairperson Ram Shinde ultimately intervened to conclude the discussion, expressing hope that the government would put robust preventive measures in place.

Death Toll and Compensation

Minister Kadam confirmed that post-mortem reports for all 22 deceased persons had been received, establishing toxic liquor as the cause of death in each case. He assured the House that financial compensation announced by the government would be disbursed to all 22 affected families within the next seven days. This is among the deadliest spurious liquor incidents in Maharashtra in recent years, renewing calls for systemic reform in excise enforcement across the state.