Pune Shocked! 15 Dead, Several Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Spurious Liquor in Hadapsar & Pimpri-Chinchwad
Pune Shocked! 15 Dead, Several Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Spurious Liquor in Hadapsar & Pimpri-Chinchwad(Representational)
Pune, 29th May 2026: At least 15 people have died in a suspected hooch tragedy reported across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, while several others remain hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. Officials fear the toll could rise as some patients are said to be in critical condition.
According to preliminary investigations, the victims had consumed illegally brewed country liquor allegedly made using industrial alcohol and other toxic chemicals in Pune’s Hadapsar area. Authorities suspect the contaminated liquor was distributed to multiple locations, including Hadapsar and Phugewadi, leading to deaths in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Among those who died in Pune are Rahul Sharad Kshirsagar (45), Vijay Bhukurlal Sharma (45), Arun Dadar, Ashok Ramesh Chavan, and one unidentified person.
The deceased from Pimpri-Chinchwad include Pandurang Sadashiv Phuge (57), Vijay Prakash Rathod (31), Rajendra Prakash Rathod (34), Rajendra Rajput (51), Akbar Pathan (52), Anand Desai (53), and Ananda Nikalje (35), along with others.
Police and officials from the State Excise Department have launched a major probe into the suspected illicit liquor network. Investigators have identified Yogesh Wankhede, who reportedly has previous offences registered with the Excise Department, as the prime accused in the case.
