MP CM Orders Judicial Probe into Sagar Hooch Tragedy as Death Toll Reaches 15

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered a judicial probe into a devastating spurious liquor tragedy in Sagar district, where the death toll has reached at least 15, with local police reports indicating over 20 fatalities across rural hamlets. Returning to the state on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, following an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, Chief Minister Yadav travelled directly to Sagar to review the medical response at Bundelkhand Medical College, where nearly 40 victims remain hospitalised, including three in critical condition.

The Chief Minister announced an immediate administrative restructuring in the division alongside the judicial inquiry, directing law enforcement agencies to pursue the sternest available legal measures against the perpetrators. The state government has authorised the invocation of penal charges carrying potential life imprisonment or the death penalty, while instructing local authorities to identify and demolish illegal properties and encroachments belonging to individuals involved in the bootlegging network.

During his visit to Sagar, Chief Minister Yadav held high-level review meetings with local administrative and police officials to evaluate the progress of the investigation and oversee patient care at Bundelkhand Medical College. Speaking on the statutory framework being deployed against the syndicate, Yadav emphasized that negligence or illegalities would meet zero tolerance from his administration.

"Our government has enacted stringent laws for such cases. Provisions exist for severe action under Section 304 in addition to Section 49-A of the Excise Act," Chief Minister Yadav stated. "We have given the administration a completely free hand in this matter. The strictest possible action will be taken against anyone found involved in this incident." He added that instructions were issued for immediate action against illegal activities and encroachments associated with the accused, alongside state-wide preventive protocols to stop similar incidents from recurring.

Investigative findings released by the Sagar district police reveal that the illicit liquor was manufactured in agricultural fields in Tatarwara village ahead of the festival of Krishna Janmashtami. Sagar District Superintendent of Police Anurag Sujaniya confirmed that 16 individuals have been arrested so far under two separate First Information Reports filed at local police stations in connection with the tragedy.

According to SP Sujaniya, Chandrabhan Singh, also known as Chandu Rajput, the divisional president of the Karni Sena and a resident of Tatarwara village, has been identified as the prime accused and mastermind behind the operation. The syndicate prepared the toxic batch on Chandrabhan's farmland and distributed it at discounted prices by routing it through a licensed liquor shop in Barethi, operated by co-accused Manish Lodhi, also known as Yashwant Thakur. The counterfeit alcohol was packaged and disguised as a recognized commercial brand in the region to deceive local consumers.

The police investigation has exposed broader inter-state connections linking the Sagar hooch network to established bootlegging operations spanning Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Investigators identified Ravi Lakhera as a key operative managing the cross-border illicit network. Lakhera's bootlegging infrastructure was previously targeted and dismantled by the Uttar Pradesh Police in Lalitpur district in May 2026.

While 16 suspects, including Chandrabhan Singh and his relative Shivanjay Rajput, are in police custody, 17 other accused individuals remain at large. In a tragic turn within the syndicate, one of the accused suppliers, identified as Ram Singh, died after consuming the same toxic liquor he was distributing at cheap rates. To accelerate the capture of the remaining fugitives, law enforcement authorities announced a reward of 20,000 rupees each for information leading to the arrest of absconding key figures Manish Lodhi and Ravi Lakhera, alongside a 10,000-rupees bounty on other fleeing suspects.

To ensure an unbiased inquiry and restore administrative control, the state government executed senior leadership changes in Sagar division. Senior IPS officer Irshad Wali was appointed as the new Inspector General of Police for the Sagar Zone, taking over the position vacant since the retirement of Mithilesh Shukla on August 31. Concurrently, senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar assumed charge as the Divisional Commissioner of Sagar division, having been appointed just prior to the tragedy coming to light.

Simultaneously, the Madhya Pradesh Excise Department initiated a comprehensive state-wide drive targeting the illegal alcohol trade. Excise Commissioner Deepak Saxena reported that enforcement teams seized 12,107 litres of illicit liquor across the state over a three-day period, including 118 litres confiscated in Sagar district alone. State-wide enforcement operations have resulted in legal proceedings initiated against 974 individuals as authorities attempt to neutralize bootlegging syndicates across multiple districts.

Addressing long-term prevention, Chief Minister Yadav instructed Sagar district officials to establish tighter operational coordination with administration and police authorities in border districts, particularly across the state line in Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister also indicated plans to collaborate with religious and social organizations to launch public awareness campaigns focused on de-addiction and community monitoring.

With nearly 40 patients undergoing treatment at Bundelkhand Medical College and three individuals in critical condition, health officials are continuously monitoring casualty counts. Meanwhile, multiple specialized police units are conducting coordinated raids across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to apprehend the 17 absconding suspects, while the newly instituted judicial inquiry panel begins its formal probe into administrative oversight, regulatory gaps, and procedural breakdowns.