Kolkata:
After being on the run for over a month, the prime accused in the West Bengal hooch tragedy Khora Badshah finally surrendered in a court today.
Bashshah alias Noor Islam Fakir is the alleged kingpin who supplied the spurious liquor that claimed the lives of at least 171 people in the state's South 24 Parganas district in December last year.
He, alongwith another person called Salim, was allegedly running an extensive business of manufacture and distribution of illicit liquor in the affected district. The duo has been operating in the region for long and has an extensive network through the Railways and bus routes that cut across the district. Both men apparently have very high political connections. Badshah for one, according to locals, earlier used to be closely associated with the CPI(M) as was Salim but both seem to have shifted their loyalties after a change in regime.
The police had earlier arrested his wife, Nurjahan Bibi, and three others in connection with the case.
The case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police.