Liquor smuggler runs over cop in Madhya Pradesh district where hooch killed 12

INDORE: Khategaon police inspector Dilip Puri was killed in the early hours of Monday when a truck carrying smuggled liquor ran him over during a night-time check on the Indore-Betul highway in Dewas district.Puri, 45, was leading one of five special teams formed by newly posted Dewas SP Aditya Mishra to crack down on the illegal liquor trade.On a tip-off, his team reached the highway around 1.30 am and found a truck parked near Sandalpur Fata, close to the Narmada Dhaba. Puri stepped out of his vehicle and approached the driver. The driver allegedly steered the truck onto the divider to flee, and a rear wheel crushed the inspector.A constable, Sohan Jat, was also injured when the driver allegedly tried to run him over as well. Puri was rushed to hospital but died during treatment. The truck was later abandoned at Sandalpur, and the driver escaped.The vehicle looked empty from outside, but police and Excise officials found a concealed compartment beneath the carrier floor holding 208 boxes, about 1,800 litres of Bagpiper whisky, SP Aditya Mishra said.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Rs 1 crore in assistance for Puri’s family and a compassionate appointment for his wife as a Sub-Inspector. Puri is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. The state govt has ordered a high-level probe led by Special DG Upendra Jain.The officers followed clues and the trail led quickly to Timarni in Harda district. The seized liquor matched stock at a Sodhalpur Road liquor shop, where officials found 100 boxes of Bagpiper Deluxe whisky bearing the same batch number.Harda Collector Kumar Satyam suspended the shop’s licence, citing a prima facie violation of Section 34(1)(a) of the Madhya Pradesh Excise Act, 1915. Police say the shop was one of three used to run a network supplying illegal liquor to different areas, with this consignment headed to Gujarat.Rahul Jaiswal, described as the network’s kingpin, was taken into custody by late evening. Investigators say he managed the Timarni operation and that all cash from the business was deposited with him, after which he distributed shares to the other partners.In a video statement before his arrest, Rahul denied holding any licence or contract, saying the licence was in the name of Patendra Jaiswal of Barwani and that his own businesses were buses and petrol pumps.Police claim the ownership of the shop is split among Rahul, Manish Jaiswal of Indore and Mohin Jaiswal of Ahmedabad, who hold 30% each, and Patendra Jaiswal, who holds 10%. Police have also detained Vijay Rao of Indore, who allegedly admitted working for Rahul in the smuggling network.In Alirajpur, Kairam Singh was arrested from Behedwa village; he was allegedly travelling in a Swift car ahead of the truck. The truck is registered to Shoaib Qureshi of Khargone, who says he sold it to Suku Ajnaar of Jobat without transferring the registration. Qureshi has been detained.The driver, Gajendra alias Akku Rawat of Alirajpur, remains absconding, with a Rs 10,000 reward announced for information on him.The Excise Commissioner has suspended Timarni Assistant District Excise Officer Amarsingh Baghel and constables Arun Kumre and Krishnapal Singh Dodiyar.Two Timarni shops and one in Rahatgaon remain shut while stocks are checked. “We have identified the source of the liquor, its destination and those involved in transporting it,” said DG Upendra Jain, adding that SPs in five districts have formed teams for raids and arrests.The case comes weeks after more than a dozen suspected hooch deaths in Chandana and Binjana villages in Dewas, which led to action against the district’s SP, collector and Excise officials.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Indore | Silver Rate in Indore | Bank Holidays in Indore | Public Holidays in Indore | Petrol Price in Indore | Diesel Price in Indore | CNG Price in Indore | LPG Price in IndoreStay updated with the latest Indore news. Download the TOI App.