SIT Begins Probe After ‘Denatured Spirits’ Kills 12 in MP’s Ujjain

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had ordered a probe by an SIT on Thursday.

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A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has begun a probe into the Ujjain hooch deaths, ANI reported on Friday, 16 October. The report quoted an official as saying that there have been 12 deaths in the incident and that the viscera reports of the deceased have been sent for investigation.

“Denatured spirits aren't for consumption, but are often misused. Will take steps to stop it. As a precaution, we've warned dealers about the specific lot,” an official told ANI.

India Today had earlier reported that the preliminary post mortem report suggested that consumption of denatured spirit seemed to be the cause of death. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered a probe by an SIT on Thursday, while the superintendent of police of the district suspended four police personnel, Hindustan Times reported, quoting police and state government communique.

Earlier, reports suggested that 14 people had died after consuming what is suspected to be spurious liquor in Ujjain. Most of the victims were beggars and labourers, reported PTI.

Earlier, Mahaveer Khandelwal, Ujjain Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), told PTI that 11 people had been brought to a local hospital in a critical condition. None of the individuals survived for more than 15 minutes after being brought in.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI, Hindustan Times and India Today.)