2015 Malvani hooch tragedy: Court finds four guilty of procuring, selling spurious liquor

On the intervening night of June 17 and 18, 2015, people began falling ill after having hooch, a spurious liquor, available at a cheaper rate than other alcohol. By the next day, many were rushed to hospitals and 106 people lost their lives. Around 75 suffered injuries, with several losing eyesight partially or completely. Most of the victims were sole breadwinners of their families.

Initially, the police arrested Tapkar, stating that the hooch was sold from an illegal den he operated. In the following days, police arrested 13 others, claiming that some had purchased methanol, an industrial solvent, from Gujarat, which was then sold to illegal liquor sellers in the Malvani area and sold to the men, who died or suffered injuries.

During the trial, special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat had examined over 240 witnesses, including family members of the deceased, and victims, who submitted the whereabouts of the den from where the hooch was brought. Police also seized the chemical-laced liquor in a white can and sent it for forensic analysis.

The court said that it was proven that Khan had received the chemicals sent from Gujarat but it was not proved who had provided them. It also said that Khan had distributed the liquor to 7-8 vendors. For the rest of the accused, the chain of evidence was not conclusive, the court said. The detailed order will be made available next week.

In 2012, in a similar case in Vikhroli, where over 80 persons died, the court had sentenced four to life imprisonment.