Pune Hooch Tragedy: 5,929 Litres Of Methanol Stockpile Found In Bhiwandi Warehouse, Death Toll Rises To 22

Last Updated:May 31, 2026, 12:53 IST

Authorities probing the Pune hooch tragedy raid M/s Rex International warehouse in Bhiwandi, seize 5929 litres of methanol, probe links to illegal liquor network continues.

The investigation into the Pune hooch tragedy, which claimed 22 lives after people consumed spurious liquor, has now led authorities to Bhiwandi in Maharashtra’s Thane district. Government agencies have intensified their crackdown on illegal liquor networks as they seek to uncover the supply chain behind the deadly incident.

As part of the probe, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a late-night raid on Friday at a warehouse operated by M/s Rex International in Mhatre Compound, located in the Val Gram Panchayat area of Bhiwandi taluka. During the operation, authorities seized 5,929 litres of methanol stored in plastic drums and sealed the premises.

Preliminary findings suggest that the methanol recovered from the warehouse may have been used in the manufacture of the toxic liquor that led to the deaths in Pune. Investigators are now working to establish the exact links between the seized chemical and the illegal liquor network responsible for the tragedy.

The raid has once again brought attention to concerns surrounding the illegal storage of chemicals and prohibited substances in Bhiwandi’s vast warehouse belt. Just a month ago, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) carried out a major operation in the Rahanal Gram Panchayat area, seizing around 349 kilograms of high-grade cocaine valued at approximately ₹1,745 crore.

Notably, sources indicated that the local Narpoli Police were reportedly unaware of the FDA’s operation, mirroring questions raised after previous enforcement actions in the region. The development has triggered concerns over how large-scale illegal activities and major raids continue to take place in Bhiwandi’s warehouse zones without the apparent knowledge of local law enforcement.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and are attempting to identify individuals involved in the storage, distribution and supply of the methanol. Further arrests and seizures are expected as agencies expand their probe into the network linked to the Pune hooch tragedy.

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