Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) seeks report from revenue dept on spiked toddy case

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has sought a detailed report from the revenue (prohibition & excise) dept by Aug 20 regarding the adulterated toddy case that claimed eight lives and left dozens hospitalised.In a notice to the department, the commission requested factual verification of the incident, including the total number of deaths and those affected. It also directed the principal secretary to submit details of action taken against the perpetrators, along with the number of arrests made.Additionally, the commission sought information on departmental enquiries initiated against officials, disciplinary actions taken, and the number of toddy shops that were sealed.

The TGHRC asked whether any compensation had been provided to the families of the deceased, and if preventive measures were put in place across Telangana to regulate toddy tapping and distribution, as well as to monitor and curb its adulteration to avoid recurrence of such incidents.The notice came after the commission received an online complaint regarding the incident, where people consumed the adulterated toddy from in and around compounds in Kukatpally and Hydernagar.

Several people are still undergoing treatment in NIMS and Gandhi Hospital.At least nine people, including the prime suspect Satyam Goud, were arrested by the excise dept officials, and over 400 litres of toddy have been seized over the past days. Following the incident, Balanagar excise station's SHO, Venu Kumar, was suspended by the Telangana prohibition and excise department.