NEW DELHI // Indian police have arrested a bootlegger accused of supplying the toxic liquor that killed 100 people from a slum in Mumbai, a senior officer has said.
Mansur Latif Shaikh, 26, was picked up during a raid on his hideout in north-western New Delhi on Tuesday following a tip-off, days after Mumbai police pledged to crack down on the illicit trade.
The Delhi deputy police commissioner, Veenu Bansal, said Mr Shaikh had confessed during questioning to diluting three drums of “spurious liquor” that were packed into pouches and sent to Mumbai.
“Since the last three years he has been involved in the sale and supply of spurious liquor,” Mr Bansal said in the statement, describing Mr Shaikh as the main suspect in the case.
Victims first started falling ill, some vomiting blood and suffering breathing problems, in the middle of last week after drinking the alcohol in the Mumbai suburb of Malad West.
Seven other people have already been arrested over the tragedy that has killed 100 and left scores sick in hospital.
Police are still waiting for the results of an investigation to determine whether high levels of methanol were present.
Methanol, mainly used as anti-freeze or fuel, is often added to illicit alcohol in India as a cheap and quick method of raising the alcohol content.
* Agence France-Presse
