Six days after Mumbai’s worst hooch tragedy, which has claimed 102 lives so far, the man who allegedly supplied the killer brew was on Tuesday arrested and the Maharashtra government ordered a probe by the state’s Chief Secretary into the incident.
Mansoor Ali, alias Atiq, said to be the main supplier of the spurious liquor, was apprehended by a joint team of Crime Branch of Mumbai Police and North-East Delhi Police from Seelampur in the national capital, officials said, in Delhi.
Mansoor was on the run after the death toll began mounting and was being sheltered by a “link”.
On getting a tip-off, Mumbai Police sought help of their Delhi counterparts and succeeded in tracking down the “link”, who gave information leading to Mansoor’s arrest.
Mansoor, according to sources, had smuggled the hooch to Mumbai from Gujarat, where liquor is prohibited. His father too was claimed to have been involved in the illegal trade.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has announced a high-level probe into the tragedy by its top-most official.
Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya has been asked to conclude the probe and submit a report to the government in three months, he said.
The death toll from the city’s worst such tragedy had risen to 102 on Monday night, while over 40 people have been taken ill.
So far seven persons have been arrested in the case and eight police and four excise officials suspended. All of those arrested are in police custody.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was briefed by Crime Branch officials about the ongoing investigation, meanwhile, said he wanted capital punishment for those responsible for the tragedy.
“I want to see most severe punishment for the culprits. They should be hanged,” an official in the Chief Minister’s Office quoted Mr. Fadnavis as having told the officials.
Mr. Fadnavis asked them to build a “watertight” case against the accused, the CMO official said.
Blaming the BJP-led State government’s lapses for the tragedy, the opposition Congress has already demanded the resignation of Mr. Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.
“Excise Minister should take responsibility for this tragedy and quit. Since the Home Department is with the Chief Minister he should also resign,” Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said.
