India
Key Suspect in Madhya Pradesh Liquor Poisoning Case Captured After Shootout With Police
The main suspect in Madhya Pradesh's Banda spurious liquor case, Ravi Lakhera, was arrested following an exchange of gunfire with police on Friday morning. Lakhera, who carried a bounty of ₹30,000 and had 25 prior criminal cases against him, sustained a leg injury during the confrontation and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Sagar Superintendent of Police Anurag Sujania said Barayatha police received a tip that Lakhera was hiding near the Hanuman Tong Temple along the Banda-Barayatha road. Town inspectors Anand Singh from Banda police station and Arvind Singh from Barayatha led teams that surrounded the forest area. When police approached him, Lakhera reportedly fired at least three rounds at officers, who returned fire and wounded him before taking him into custody.
Police recovered a country-made 12-bore pistol, cartridges, spent shell casings, and a motorcycle from the scene. Two associates fled during the operation, and search efforts to locate them are continuing, according to Sujania.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised the swift police response, stating that negligence would not be tolerated at any level and that strict action was being taken against those responsible. He added that an ongoing crackdown on substance abuse would ensure severe consequences for anyone involved in the narcotics trade, similar to the outcome faced by Lakhera.
Investigators say Lakhera played a central role in producing and supplying the toxic mixture used in the spurious liquor. According to police, he supplied industrial chemicals to Manish Lodhi, also known as Yashwant Thakur, a licensed contractor from Barethi, and to Chandrabhan Singh Rajput, alias Chandu, who serves as divisional president of the Karni Sena. Just two days before Krishna Janmashtami, the group allegedly manufactured the counterfeit liquor and distributed it through government-authorized shops to illegal outlets in various villages, selling it at ₹20 below the standard price.
Lakhera, a native of Mahoba in Chhatarpur district who resides in Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, had previously been arrested in connection with an illegal liquor manufacturing operation.
Additional Superintendent of Police Jaiveer Singh Bhadoriya said authorities are investigating the source of the industrial chemicals used, any possible involvement or protection from distilleries, and the network responsible for supplying counterfeit bottles, caps, holograms, and labels.
The death toll from the liquor poisoning tragedy has reached 16. Authorities have arrested 17 people in connection with the case so far, while 13 suspects remain at large.