Mumbai, Jan 26 (PTI): Less than a week after the state government declared mineral-rich Chandrapur as a "dry district", state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who was instrumental in taking the decision, received a threat letter.

Mungantiwar played a key role in banning the sale, purchase, production and consumption of liquor at Chandrapur in Vidarbha.

Confirming that he has received threats, Mungantiwar, who has his home in Chandrapur and is the guardian minister of the district, said the letter threatened to "finish him off and destroy his political career".

"I agree that the liquor vendors will be affected by the decision to prohibit production, sale, purchase or consumption of alcohol there, but I have saved families of thousands of people who are addicted," he said. "Inputs about the threats will be assessed."

Asked if his security has been stepped up following the incident, Mungantiwar said the Chandrapur superintendent of police was reviewing the matter and a decision would be taken after that. "I am not scared of such threats," he said.

After neighbouring Wardha and Gadchiroli, Chandrapur will be the third district in the state, also in east Maharashtra, where liquor prohibition is brought into effect. Recently, public works department (PWD) minister Eknath Shinde had also received threats from an unidentified person.