Ahmedabad: Methanol allegedly brought from Delhi was used to adulterate liquor that killed nine people and left around 25 critically ill in Bhavnagar, exposing gaps in enforcement of prohibition in Gujarat. “One of the accused allegedly brought methanol from Delhi to Bhavnagar via Ahmedabad using two transporters. Another accused, who later died after drinking the illicit liquor, had allegedly mixed the methanol with liquor, spirit and other substances to increase the volume,” a senior State Monitoring Cell (SMC) officer said.Investigators said methanol was used because it was cheaper than ethanol and because the accused believed it would produce a stronger effect. The officer said the accused knew methanol could be fatal but allegedly used it anyway to reduce costs and increase the quantity of the liquor.The accused first supplied two batches of the liquor. When no immediate adverse reactions were reported, they allegedly decided to send more consignments containing the methanol-based mixture, the officer said.Reports of deaths began on the afternoon of Aug 18 in Vartej, after people who drank the liquor fell ill. Over the next two days, nine people died, including a newly recruited policeman, a govt schoolteacher and one of the accused. Police said many of those admitted to hospitals remain critical, with breathing difficulties reported among the complications.The use of multiple transporters to move consignments frequently has raised questions about monitoring chemical movement and illicit liquor supply chains. Investigators said the case appears to differ from earlier hooch tragedies in 2022 and 2008, when deaths were linked to country-made liquor. In the latest case, the victims are believed to have drunk liquor packaged and circulated as IMFL.
