After Sagar tragedy, Madhya Pradesh Police uncover hooch racket with Delhi link

After at least 20 people died earlier this month in a hooch tragedy in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district , the police have uncovered a Statewide counterfeit liquor manufacturing cartel with links to Delhi, officials told The Hindu on Saturday (September 19, 2026).

According to officials, 14 people were arrested over the previous two days. Among them was the owner of a chemical company in Delhi, who is accused of supplying industrial spirit to those involved in manufacturing counterfeit liquor.

Investigating the first two information reports (FIRs) filed in connection with the tragedy that affected villages in the Banda and Shahgarh tehsils, police have added 22 more people as accused, bringing the total number of accused in the cases to 52. Of these, 37 people have been arrested so far in police raids across various parts of the state, including Sagar, Morena, and Gwalior, officials said.