Fake alcohol deaths: Kallakurichi SP suspended, Collector transferred; case transferred to CB-CID

Following the drunken deaths in Kallakurichi, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday evening transferred district collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended superintendent of police Samay Singh Meena. The government confirmed that five people have died so far, but reports suggest the number is higher.

A press release from the state government said MS Prasanth has been appointed as the new district collector and Rajat Chaturvedi as the new SP.

Chief Minister MK Stalin handed over the case to the CB-CID and dispatched Highways Minister EV Velu and Health Minister MA Subramanain to Kallakurichi to make necessary arrangements for the treatment of 26 persons who had consumed spurious liquor. Police arrested Govindaraj alias Kannukuttu, who had sold the liquor, and a forensic analysis confirmed the presence of methanol in the liquor, an official release said.

The government said all the victims hailed from Karunapuram Colony in Kallakurichi taluk and had consumed spurious liquor sold in sachets. They complained of abdominal pain, eye irritation and vomiting and were admitted to Kallakurichi Government Medical College Hospital.

Praveenkumar, 26, died early Tuesday morning. Suresh, 40, and Sekar, 59, also failed to respond to treatment at the medical college hospital. Two others, Kandan and Vadivu, also died.

The government has sent a four-member medical team to Kallakurichi to treat the victims. 18 people have been sent to JIPMER in Puducherry. Doctors from Salem and Tiruvannamalai have rushed to Kallakurichi and 12 ambulances are on standby.

The state government also suspended DSP Tamilselvan, who was in charge of the ban, as well as Manoj, DSP, Tirukovilur and other officials.