MP orders judicial probe into Sagar hooch tragedy as toll hits 15

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered a judicial inquiry into the deaths of 15 people in Sagar linked to the consumption of spurious liquor. The announcement came late Wednesday evening after the CM returned from an official visit to the UAE and personally visited patients at Bundelkhand Medical College.

During a high-level meeting with officials, Yadav said the administration has been given a free hand to act against those responsible. He noted that stringent legal provisions, including Section 304 of the IPC and Section 49-A of the Excise Act, would be invoked. The CM added that the government is seeking life imprisonment and even the death penalty for the guilty, and has issued statewide directives to prevent similar incidents.

In a related administrative reshuffle, senior IPS officer Irshad Wali has been appointed Inspector General of Police for the Sagar Zone, replacing Mithilesh Shukla who retired on August 31. Divisional Commissioner Dilip Kumar, appointed just before the tragedy surfaced, also assumed charge on Wednesday.

Police have arrested 16 people in connection with two registered cases. The prime accused, Chandrabhan alias Chandu Rajpoot, allegedly manufactured the illicit liquor and passed it off as a recognised brand. However, two key suspects — Manish Lodhi and Ravi Lakhera — remain absconding. Lodhi is accused of selling counterfeit liquor through his licensed shop, while Lakhera is linked to an interstate illicit liquor network spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. A reward of ₹20,000 each has been announced for information leading to their arrest.

Meanwhile, the Excise Department has launched a statewide crackdown. Excise Commissioner Deepak Saxena said 12,107 litres of illicit liquor, including 118 litres from Sagar district, have been seized in the past three days, and legal action has been initiated against 974 accused.