Five officers suspended, one attached to Gwalior after spurious liquor deaths in Sagar

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has taken stern administrative action following the deaths of “several people” after consuming spurious liquor in three villages of Banda tehsil in Sagar district.

The tragic incident, which unfolded late on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday, claimed multiple lives in Gogra Khurd, Nauroz and Patan villages.

On the Chief Minister’s directions, Excise Commissioner Deepak Saxena suspended three officers — Sagar’s Assistant Excise Commissioner Kirti Dubey, Assistant District Excise Officer Dilip Khandate and Banda Circle Excise Sub-Inspector Proshni Ureti. Deputy Commissioner and Divisional Flying Squad in-charge Neerja Srivastava has been removed from the district and attached to Gwalior headquarters.

The police department simultaneously suspended Banda police station in-charge Rajendra Singh Kushwaha and Gugra outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Puran Lal Ladia with immediate effect.

Speaking on Sunday, Chief Minister Yadav made it clear that no one found responsible would be spared. “This is a sensitive matter. As soon as I came to know about it during my stay in New Delhi, I directed the Minister in-charge of Sagar district and the concerned officials to immediately investigate and take strict action against the culprits,” he said.

He also ordered senior officers to ensure prompt investigation, relief and proper medical treatment for those affected.

Senior officials, including the Commissioner, Inspector General, Collector and Superintendent of Police of Sagar Division, rushed to the spot. They met the bereaved families, reviewed the condition of patients admitted to hospital and instructed medical teams to provide all necessary care without delay.

Door-to-door screening was launched in the affected villages, and liquor samples were seized for forensic examination.

Preliminary findings have pointed to the possible presence of methyl alcohol, with investigators also examining suspected supply links from across the Uttar Pradesh border.

The deaths have left several families devastated. Local residents reported that people fell ill after consuming the liquor on Saturday night, with symptoms of vomiting, headache and sudden deterioration leading to fatalities.

The administration has sealed local liquor outlets as a precautionary measure while the probe continues.

Chief Minister Yadav reiterated that the government would not tolerate such negligence and that accountability would be fixed at every level. Further action is expected as the investigation progresses and post-mortem reports become available.

IANS