Overview
- A 21-year-old suspect, Shivanjay Rajput, was detained after an alleged exchange of fire with police on Sunday in the Kathua Nala forest; officers say he was shot in the leg, taken to hospital and a country-made .315-bore pistol plus ammunition were recovered.
- Police say 19 people have now been arrested in the case, with FIRs naming roughly 30–33 suspects and bounties offered for key accused.
- Investigators allege a supply chain linking Sagar sellers to a suspected gang in Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, and earlier this week arrested Ravi Lakhera, who is accused of supplying raw material for the spurious liquor.
- The state has revoked the accused individuals' firearms licences and suspended or transferred several local police and excise officials while a retired high‑court judge has been appointed to lead a three‑month judicial inquiry.
- The deaths reported by officials stand at 16, but local leaders and families dispute that figure as unrest spread to Tikamgarh where a women-led mob smashed about ₹25 lakh of licensed shop stock, and authorities face pressure to trace the fake liquor’s packaging and distribution chain.