Mahbubnagar: 3 deaths, 42 hospitalized for consuming adulterated toddy, HC orders state response
A state minister visited the government general hospital in Mahbubnagar and gave a statement that the toddy is not the cause of death of the deceased
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 Jun 2023 1:34 PM GMT
Hyderabad: The High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Tukaramji on Friday issued notices to the principal secretary and the secretary of Prohibition and Excise Telangana, deputy commissioner, Prohibition and Excise, Mahbubnagar, asking them for reasons that led to the death of three persons and deterioration of health in 42 others due to consumption of adulterated toddy. The court asked the state to respond by August 28, 2023.
The High Court was adjudicating a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by converting a news item published in a vernacular Telugu Daily on April 13, 2023, with the headline “Katesina Kalthi Kallu (The harmful adulterated toddy)”.
Chintakunta Anil Kumar, a social activist from Mahbubnagar addressed a letter to the Chief Justice with a copy of the newspaper item highlighting the entire incident wherein more than 43 persons fell ill after they consumed illicitly prepared toddy in Mahbubnagar district.
After this incident, a state minister visited the government general hospital in Mahbubnagar and gave a statement that the toddy is not the cause of death of the deceased and that the lab report will show the correct reason for the death of the three persons and the ill health of others. Samples of the deceased were sent to the lab for ascertaining the cause of the death.
The counsel further informed the court that the allegations that the management of the toddy shop tried to hush up the matter by influencing the 42 people hospitalised with money must be investigated. After hearing the arguments, the court adjourned the case to August 28.
