Mumbai hooch toll rises to 41; eight cops suspended

MUMBAI: The death toll in the hooch tragedy here has climbed to 41 while the condition of 24 victims continued to be critical even as three persons were arrested and eight cops suspended.

"Senior police inspector (attached to Malwani police station) along with seven other personnel, including three officers and four constables, have been suspended for connivance/negligence," City police commissioner Rakesh Maria told.

Police have arrested three persons in this connection and have booked them under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC.

They have been identified as Raju Hanmanta Pascar (50), Donald Robert Patel (47) and Gautam Harte (30) and their role is investigated.

The incident occurred at Laxmi Nagar slum near Gamdevi Jurassic park in Malad on Wednesday night and the victims started showing symptoms soon after.

While 13 people died last night, the casualty figure rose to 41 today with 28 more deaths, said Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last night ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked the authorities to file report within two days.