Madhya Pradesh CM orders judicial probe into Sagar hooch tragedy; death toll rises to 15

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday night (September 9, 2026) said orders have been issued for a judicial probe into the deaths of 15 people in Sagar that have been linked to the consumption of spurious liquor.

After returning from an official trip to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Yadav visited Sagar and met patients admitted at Bundelkhand Medical College. He also held a high-level meeting with officials.

‘Free hand’

Mr. Yadav said that he has given a free hand to officials to take action in the matter. “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… 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 said. 

He also said that measures have been taken to seek life imprisonment and even the death penalty against those found guilty.

“Furthermore, instructions have been issued to take immediate action against those involved in illegal activities and encroachments. Necessary directives have been issued across the State to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The government is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness, and no leniency will be shown to the guilty at any level,” the CM added. 

Meanwhile, senior IPS officer Irshad Wali has been appointed as Inspector General (IG) of Police, Sagar Zone, in place of Mithilesh Shukla, who retired on August 31. 

Divisional Commissioner Dilip Kumar, who was appointed a day before the hooch tragedy came to light, also took charge on Wednesday (September 9). 

The accused

The police have so far arrested 16 people in the two cases filed in the matter. The arrested included the prime accused, Chandrabhan alias Chandu Rajpoot, who allegedly made the illicit liquor and disguised it as having come from a recognised brand in the region.

However, two key accused — Manish Lodhi, who allegedly sold counterfeit liquor through his licensed liquor shop, and Ravi Lakhera, who is accused of running an interstate illicit liquor network in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — remain absconding, with multiple police teams conducting raids to nab them. The police also announced a reward of ₹20,000 each on their arrest. 

Meanwhile, the Excise Department has been carrying out a Statewide campaign to seize and destroy illicit liquor. 

Excise Commissioner Deepak Saxena said that 12,107 litres of illicit liquor, including 118 litres in Sagar district, have been seized from across the State in the past three days. He added that legal action has been taken against 974 accused.