In a significant breakthrough in the Amritsar liquor tragedy case, the police have traced the crime trail using WhatsApp chats of the prime accused, Sahib Singh. The investigation led to the seizure of 600 litres of methanol, a highly toxic chemical used in the manufacturing of illicit liquor, and the arrest of multiple individuals connected to the illegal trade.
Police officials revealed that Sahib Singh had sourced the methanol from firms based in Ludhiana and Delhi. He initially bought 50 litres from a Ludhiana-based firm, which was allegedly used to produce the spurious liquor that resulted in multiple deaths and hospitalizations. He later ordered 600 litres from a Delhi-based company. The police intercepted this consignment on Tuesday in Banur, Patiala, while it was being transported to Amritsar.
Sahib Singh reportedly paid ₹35,000 to a Delhi firm named Bharat Heavy Chemicals for the larger consignment. His WhatsApp conversations, uncovered during the investigation, served as key technical evidence.
Speaking to the media, DIG (Border Range) Satinder Singh, along with SSP (Amritsar Rural) Maninder Singh, confirmed the arrests of illicit liquor distributors Prabhjit Singh and Kulbir Singh. They revealed that the methanol was handed over to the two, who diluted and sold it further.
The police arrested the owners of both methanol-supplying firms:Arvinder Kumar and Pankaj Kumar (Ludhiana),Ravinder Kumar Jain and Rajiv Kumar Jain (Delhi)
Sahib Singh, who has 10 previous cases under the Excise Act, attempted to go into hiding after the incident by switching off his phone. However, he was arrested within hours.
A senior Excise Department official said two GST bills issued for methanol purchases by Sahib Singh were crucial in tracking the transportation route of the illegal consignment. The bills helped locate the truck that was bringing methanol from Delhi to Punjab.
Meanwhile, Punjab Finance and Excise Minister Harpal Cheema has written to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, requesting urgent regulation of methyl alcohol (methanol) under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, to prevent further misuse in illicit liquor production.
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