Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, May 31: Investigations into the Pune hooch tragedy have revealed that the main accused, Yogesh Vhankade, had been using the fictitious name "Sikandar Rathod" for the past three years to conceal his identity and evade action by police and excise authorities while operating an illegal liquor trade.
The revelation emerged during the probe into the methanol-laced country liquor tragedy that has claimed more than 20 lives in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
A Pune court has remanded four accused — Yogesh Ramchandra Vhankade (23), a resident of Keshavnagar in Mundhwa, Karnelsing Takhtsing Virka (73), Gurmantsing Karnelsing Virka (45), both residents of Sanjay Nagar in Phugewadi, and Radheshyam Hariram Prajapati (35), a resident of Uruli Kanchan — to police custody until June 10. A case has been registered at Dapodi Police Station.
According to investigators, Yogesh Rajendra Vhankade, originally from Belati Laman Tanda in Solapur district, had moved to Pune several years ago in search of employment. After residing in Kunjirwadi and Ghorpadi, he had been living with his parents in Gurukrupa Society at Keshavnagar for the past five months.
While presenting himself as an ordinary citizen, investigators found that he had been actively involved in the illegal liquor trade for nearly three years.
Police said his primary supplier was Raju Prajapati, also known as Radheshyam Goyal, from the Uruli Kanchan area. Vhankade allegedly purchased 35-litre cans of illicit liquor from Prajapati for Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,800 each and supplied them to illegal liquor vendors across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Authorities said three cases had previously been registered against Vhankade by Mundhwa and Hadapsar police stations as well as the State Excise Department in connection with the transportation, storage and sale of illegal liquor.
Meanwhile, forensic experts are awaiting laboratory reports to determine the exact cause of the deaths. Samples of internal organs (viscera) from the deceased have been sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory for urgent examination.
Sources said the reports are expected within the next two to three days.
Based on the symptoms displayed by the victims, doctors and forensic specialists suspect methanol poisoning as the primary cause of death. However, officials said the exact cause and the specific chemicals responsible can only be confirmed after forensic analysis.
During post-mortem examinations, samples from the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys and spleen, along with blood samples, were preserved and sent for testing. Officials said around 20 millilitres of blood are typically included in viscera samples to determine whether death was caused by toxic substances, alcohol, chemicals, medicines or other poisonous compounds.
Laboratory officials said a standard viscera examination and report preparation usually take two to three days. However, efforts are being made to expedite the process due to the seriousness of the case and the public interest involved.
Several samples have already reached the laboratory, while the remaining specimens are expected to be received shortly as the investigation continues.