Before booze killed 12 in Madhya Pradesh, excise department’s many flip-flops
· India · Indian Express
At least 12 people died in Sagar district after consuming illicit liquor, prompting a widening investigation into an interstate supply chain linked to Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh. Internal orders reveal the state excise department issued conflicting directives, shifting from ordering the seizure of the suspected 'Sagar Gold' brand to declaring that no further action was required within hours. Excise Commissioner Deepak Saxena confirmed that four officials were suspended for failing to act on warnings received three days before the fatalities occurred. Police have registered three FIRs and arrested 14 of the 30 accused individuals identified in the case. Authorities are currently probing whether early intelligence regarding a counterfeit network was ignored at multiple administrative levels.
Why it matters
The incident highlights critical lapses in regulatory oversight and enforcement, directly impacting public safety and leading to the suspension of local excise officials. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle a cross-border supply network that has already resulted in multiple deaths and hospitalisations.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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