The death toll in the hooch tragedy that happened in Mumbai has escalated to 41, while the condition of around 24 victims continued to be critical even as three persons were arrested and eight cops suspended.
“Senior police inspector (attached to Malwani police station) along with seven other personnel, including three officers and four constables, have been suspended for connivance/negligence,” City police commissioner Rakesh Maria told in his statement to the media.
Police have booked three persons in this connection and have charged them under the sections of 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused have been identified as Raju Hanmanta Pascar (50), Donald Robert Patel (47) and Gautam Harte (30) and their role is thoroughly being investigated. Also under the scanner is API Jagdish Panhale, who was the beat officer at the police chowky that covered the area of Laxmi Nagar, where the spurious liquor was sold. “We have suspended SPI Prakash Patil, API Jagdish Panhale, PSI Shankar Gharge, PSI Manisha Shirsat, head constable Rammilan Singh, constables Arun Jadhav and Vilas Desai and police naik Sanjay Mane,” said a police officer, on the condition of anonymity.
The incident occurred at Laxmi Nagar slums, near Gamdevi Jurassic park in Malad, on Wednesday night, after which the victims started showing symptoms. While around 13 people died on Thursday night, the casualty figure rose to 41 today with 28 more deaths, stated Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last night ordered an official, detailed inquiry into the incident and asked the authorities to file report within two days or at the earliest.
Tags: Hooch Malad Malvani Mumbai