At least 11 dead after consuming spurious liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar

At least 11 people have died after consuming spurious liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, with authorities swinging into action and police launching an investigation, officials said Sunday (September 6, 2026).

Three Excise officials have been suspended and one line-attached by the Madhya Pradesh Government in connection with the incident.

Kirti Dubey, Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Sagar; Dilip Khandate, Assistant District Excise Officer; Proshni Ureti, Excise Sub-Inspector, Banda Circle have been suspended by the State Excise Commissioner.

Neerja Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner and in-charge of the Divisional Flying Squad, has been attached to the Gwalior headquarters, a government official said.

Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal said that cases of methyl alcohol consumption have been reported from two villages — Nauroja and Dogra — under Banda police station limits and that the matter came to light around 4.30 a.m. on Sunday (September 6, 2026).

“10 people have been identified as deceased. The post-mortem examinations and other procedures related to the deceased are being carried out,” Ms. Pal said, adding that the focus at present is on whether any more people are affected or are showing any symptoms in the two villages.

“A doctor’s team is screening for such people, and officials like the SDM are on the spot. We are trying to identify anyone with such symptoms and send them to the Bundelkhand Medical College for observation,” she said.

“Interactions with locals have indicated that the deaths occurred after they consumed illegal, spurious liquor. Screening has already begun in the two villages,” Ms. Pal added.

Ms. Pal said that prima facie, based on the few postmortem examinations conducted, it appears to be a case of methyl alcohol consumption, and the connection of a spurious liquor supply gang from Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur has surfaced in the preliminary investigation.

“There is a gang from Lalitpur, U.P., which is involved in supplying methyl alcohol, and since we share a border with Lalitpur, we have received information that their chain in our area has also come to notice. Further investigation is underway,” she added.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Anurag Sujaniya said that about 12 suspects have been detained and are currently being questioned.

He also said that the source of the liquor is suspected to be in U.P.’s Lalitpur.

“Such activities have been found there even in the past. So, we are working in the same direction and will reach its main source soon. We have detained 10-12 people so far and are trying to establish a link through a systematic interrogation. We are also trying to curtail its movement, if it is anywhere else, to prevent anymore loss of life,” he said.

The incident comes after 13 people died last month due to the consumption of spurious liquor in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, a ‘dry’ State where the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol are banned.

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jitu Patwari said that this incident exposes the true nature of this government.

“This is not the first time this has happened. Madhya Pradesh has been taken over by liquor mafias. With great sorrow, I say that such incidents have occurred in Sagar before as well. I myself went there and met with the victims,” he said.

“Parents in every household are shedding tears of blood because of this addiction, and the government remains silent. I believe there should be a judicial inquiry into this, and the mafias should be behind bars within 24 hours,” he added.