Madhya Pradesh Forms Panel to Probe Spurious Liquor Death Claims in Dewas

The Madhya Pradesh government has established a five-member committee to investigate claims that at least 10 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Dewas between September 27 and October 16. The panel, headed by Ujjain Additional District Magistrate Pratham Kaushik, is mandated to submit a factual report within 15 days.

While the district administration previously dismissed these claims, citing deaths due to old age, illness, or excessive alcohol consumption, it has now sent viscera samples of two deceased individuals for forensic examination. Fourteen of 30 suspects named in related FIRs have been arrested, while authorities continue to search for the remaining individuals.

Editor's note: The report effectively summarizes the committee formation, the conflicting claims, and the administration's stance on the deaths.