RAJKOT: Six people have died and at least 25 others were hospitalized after drinking methanol-spiked liquor packaged in “Royal Stag” bottles in Bhavnagar district.Questions emerged later about an alleged delay in police reporting, which has led the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) to take over the investigation.The matter came to light around 3pm on Tuesday when 25-year-old Upendrasinh Gohil died at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar. A resident of Kharkadi village in Ghogha taluka, he had attended a gathering on Sunday night with friends Harpalsinh Gohil and Vishwarajsinh Gohil, where they drank what they thought was Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) to celebrate Vishwarajsinh’s recruitment to the police force. Vishwarajsinh remains in a critical condition at Arham Hospital in Bhavnagar.The others affected are from different parts of Bhavnagar district. Investigators suspect they got the liquor from the same chain of bootleggers.Several patients reported breathlessness and loss of vision. Officials also warned of possible kidney-related complications.Bhavnagar district collector Manish Kumar Bansal on Wednesday said that the administration learnt of the incident at 6pm on Tuesday and affected people had been identified across the district.Two other deceased persons were identified as 40-year-old Kartik Makwana and 50-year-old Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja.Investigators linked the death of Narendra Yadav, a resident of MP, to the spurious liquor. They alleged that he was involved in the manufacturing process.State Monitoring Cell SP Mayur Chavda on Wednesday evening said the agency has taken over the investigation. “The liquor was manufactured and sold in Bhavnagar itself and some suspects have been detained in the case,” Chavda said.
