Key accused in 2017 Pangarmal hooch tragedy that claimed 9 lives arrested from Pune

According to the police, 9 people were killed, 13 were left injured, two got paralysed and one victim suffered blindness after consuming liquor, that was adulterated.

According to the police, Mokate and Mangal Mahadev Avhad who were contesting the local body elections on Shiv Sena tickets had organised a party for voters and activists at the Pangarmal village in Ahmednagar on February 12, 2017 in which food and liquor were served.

A probe has revealed that adulterated liquor served to the victims was allegedly prepared at the canteen of a government hospital in Ahmednagar district.

The incident had sent shock waves across the state. However, both Mokate and Avhad had won the elections held on February 14, 2017.

Pallavi Barge, Superintendent of Police (law and research), CID, said on Friday that Mokate has been on the run ever since the incident.

A first information report (FIR) in this case was lodged at the MIDC police station in Ahmednagar district under sections 304, 328, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.

State Crime Investigation Department (CID) took over the investigation in this case on April 19, 2017, and invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused persons in the case.

Twenty people were named as accused, of whom 17 were arrested, two have died, while Mokate was absconding.

A statement from the CID said that Mokate’s anticipatory bail applications were rejected by the court. Also, a special court had issued a non-bailable warrant against her. But still she did not appear before the court, it stated.

Police inspector Anand Rawade of CID, who is part of the investigation team, said that Mokate was working with a private advertising company in Pune.

Following her arrest, a court remanded Mokate in two-day police custody. Later, she was granted magisterial custody.

Probe revealed that she was hiding in Pune.