Photo for representational purpose
The Mumbai police is probing the angle of political patronage being extended to the accused in the toxic alcohol tragedy. 104 people died after consuming spurious liquor at Laxmi Nagar slum in Malvani, near suburban Malad earlier this month.
Deputy police commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni said, "Whoever was related to them in terms of support are from various political parties. We have the basic information about it. We will be investigating further on it".
The Crime Branch is investigating the case, they have arrested one more accused taking the total number of arrests to eight.
"The primary information which we have got is that they are related to a lot of people in terms of business. We are still questioning them about the same," said Mr Kulkarni.
Sources have told NDTV that the chemical methanol used in brewing the illicit liquor was sourced from Vapi in Gujarat. The town near Maharashtra has industrial units that use such chemicals for production.
Methanol is added to illicit liquor to increase its alcohol content. Consumption of as little as 10ml of it can result in blindness, and 30ml or more is usually fatal.
Sources say that local excise officials are given the responsibility of adding a chemical, butanol in methanol to make it bitter, so that it cannot be used for producing illicit liquor. Police suspect that excise officers take bribes not to add butanol, and this modus-operandi is being investigated as well.
The Chief Minister has ordered compensation for the victims as well as a high level probe under the chief secretary of Maharashtra.
The Opposition has demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as he holds the Home portfolio and Excise Minister Eknath Khadse, after this incident.