{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Bhavnagar Spurious Liquor Tragedy Claimed 13 Lives in Gujarat as State Monitoring Cell Takes Over Probe",
  "summary": "The death toll in the Bhavnagar illegal alcohol case rose to 13 after two more victims died on Sunday morning. Police have arrested 13 out of 21 named accused, and the Gujarat State Monitoring Cell has taken charge of the investigation.",
  "content": "The death toll from the consumption of methanol-contaminated spurious liquor in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat has risen to 13. Two more individuals passed away at the hospital on Sunday morning among the four who were undergoing treatment in critical condition. In total, 67 people had consumed the toxic alcoholic mixture containing deadly methanol, and two patients currently remain hospitalized under intensive medical observation. The illegal operation unfolded in a state where the manufacturing, sale, and consumption of alcohol are completely banned under strict prohibition laws.\n\nHospitalization Details and Medical Screening Drive\nAccording to official district records, the fatality count stood at 11 on Saturday following the deaths of three individuals. Among those who succumbed on Saturday were 36-year-old Hardik Kilji and 54-year-old Avinash Parmar, both of whom were admitted to the Bhavnagar government hospital. Another victim, identified as Sanjay Dodia, breathed his last at a private medical facility in Surat. With the tragic passing of two additional patients on Sunday morning, the total loss of life reached 13.\n\n \nFollowing the outbreak of the tragedy, emergency medical and administrative teams conducted an extensive tracking operation across the affected areas. Medical staff successfully treated and discharged 28 individuals from various hospitals after their conditions stabilized. Additionally, authorities identified and located 24 other individuals who had consumed the illicit liquor to perform precautionary health evaluations. Following thorough medical examinations, all 24 persons were declared healthy and free of toxic symptoms. At present, only two patients remain under treatment at the hospital, with their conditions reported to be severe.\n\nMethanol Contamination and Fake Packaging Methods\nInvestigation into the tragedy revealed that the victims had consumed bootleg liquor contaminated with methanol, an industrial chemical that is highly toxic to humans. Even small quantities of methanol can cause severe organ failure and death. To deceive buyers, the perpetrators behind the illicit trade packaged the lethal concoction inside bottles featuring the branding of popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) labels.\n\nThis tactic allowed the bootleggers to bypass suspicion in Gujarat, which functions as a dry state under strict legal prohibition against all alcohol production and distribution. By using recognized brand packaging, the illicit operators sold the poison under the guise of genuine commercial spirits, leading to widespread exposure among unsuspecting consumers across the district.\n\nPolice Arrests and Charges Filed at Vartej Station\nLaw enforcement authorities registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) at the Vartej police station in connection with the fatal incident. The FIR names a total of 21 accused individuals involved in the distribution and manufacturing process. Police officers have so far arrested 13 of the 21 named suspects, as updates were shared on X regarding the ongoing crackdown.\n\nThe arrested individuals face stringent charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The allegations include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, adulteration of drink with poisonous substances, and administering poison. A local court remanded the arrested suspects to 10 days of police custody on Thursday to allow investigators to interrogate them and uncover the entire supply chain.\n\nSpecial Unit State Monitoring Cell Assumes Investigation\nConsidering the magnitude of the tragedy and the network involved, the investigation has been transferred to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC). The SMC is a specialized law enforcement wing of the Gujarat Police tasked with tackling organized illegal liquor syndicates and gambling operations across the state. Investigators from the SMC are currently tracing the source of the industrial methanol used in the brew and identifying every distribution point involved in the criminal network.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Spurious liquor trade remains a persistent public safety threat, highlighting the dangers of illicit chemical adulteration in unregulated markets.\n• In Gujarat: Increased law enforcement scrutiny and special monitoring operations are being deployed across Bhavnagar to crack down on illegal bootlegging networks.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What is the total death toll in the Bhavnagar spurious liquor tragedy?\nThe death toll in the incident reached 13 following two additional deaths on Sunday morning.\n\n2. What toxic substance was found in the adulterated liquor?\nInvestigations revealed that the illicit liquor was contaminated with highly toxic methanol.\n\n3. How many people have been named and arrested in the police case?\nA total of 21 people were named in the FIR registered at Vartej police station, out of which 13 have been arrested.\n\n4. Which agency is investigating the spurious liquor case?\nThe investigation has been handed over to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC), a specialized unit of the Gujarat Police.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/crime/gujarat-ke-bhavnagar-men-jaharili-sharaba-se-marane-valon-ki-snkhya-hui-13-vishesha-ikai-esaemasi-ko-saunpi-gai-jancha-20614",
  "category": "Crime",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-23",
  "tags": [
    "Bhavnagar Spurious Liquor",
    "Gujarat Crime News",
    "Methanol Poisoning",
    "State Monitoring Cell",
    "Gujarat Prohibition"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}