In a breakthrough of the hooch tragedy case that claimed over 100 lives, police have finally arrested the kingpin of the illicit liquor racket who hails from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Police said that they had arrested the main accused of the case Hardev Singh and his son Sukhvinder alias Sukka, a resident of Pundel Chunhedi under police station Gagalhedi in Saharanpur district from near Ikbalpur crossing in Roorkee.
It is learnt that the duo supplied the spurious liquor to the victims who had consumed it while attending the 13th day of the mourning rituals of a deceased friend at villages in Haridwar district.
While being grilled by police, Hardev Singh is said to have admitted that he had remained engaged in the business of manufacturing and supplying hooch for years. According to police, he confessed having purchased one drum of country liquor from one Arjun of Bhagwanpur a week ago.
He had purchased 200 litres of liquor for Rs 26,000, separated 50 litres of liquor and poured 50 litres of water in it, as per police privy to the interrogation. He further told police during interrogation that he had sold 35 litres to Sonu, son of Fakira, and 35 litres to Lodi, resident of Gangalhedi. On account of the bad smell coming from the liquor and its colour turning milky, the rest of the illicit liquor had been returned to Arjun, police sources said.