Three arrested after 3 men die from consuming 'poisonous' liquor in UP's Meerut
Meerut (UP) (PTI): Police have arrested three people, including a woman, after three men drank alcohol from the same bottle and died, officials said on Sunday, adding that they suspected foul play.
Police arrested three people, including a woman, after three men drank alcohol from the same bottle and died, officials have said, adding that they suspected foul play.
According to police on Sunday, the three victims -- Baburam (60), a grocery shop owner, Jitendra (35), who worked at his shop and Ankit alias Daulat (40) -- purchased liquor from a government-authorised country liquor outlet on Friday evening and began drinking at the spot.
However, soon after, they began vomiting and complained of abdominal pain. They were rushed to a hospital where Jitendra and Ankit were declared dead, and Baburam passed away during treatment.
Upon receiving information, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police for the Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, District Magistrate VK Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey, and District Excise Officer Pradeep Kumar reached the spot and initiated an investigation.
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SSP Avinash Pandey said that preliminary investigations did not confirm whether the liquor was "toxic or expired". The bottling date was found to be February 11, 2026, and other bottles from the same batch received no such complaints.
After the Excise Laboratory report failed to confirm the presence of methanol or chloral hydrate, the police conducted a deeper probe, which revealed that the incident was not a case of ordinary alcohol consumption but rather a murder executed as part of a conspiracy, police said.
Pandey said that during the investigation, police analysed CCTV footage, technical evidence, and inquired locally. Following this, the case was deemed suspicious.
During interrogation, the prime accused, Pawan Ahlawat (alias Poli), revealed that he had been involved in a long-standing relationship with the deceased Ankit's sister, Alka.
Alka was distressed by her brother's alcohol addiction and his violent behaviour, leading to the formulation of a plan to kill him.
As part of this plan, Pawan procured a poisonous chemical from an acquaintance, Ashok Verma, mixed it into a pouch of liquor, resealed it, and handed it over to Ankit.
Police said that Ankit consumed the said liquor. Jitendra and Baburam, who were present at the scene, also drank from the same bottle, resulting in their deaths.
Police have arrested Alka, Pawan Ahlawat, and Ashok Verma. Further investigation is underway.
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SC does not interfere with order allowing Adani to acquire JAL, asks NCLAT to decide expeditiously
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday did not interfere with the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which had refused to stay Adani Group's Rs 14,535 crore bid to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL).
The bench, however, restrained the monitoring committee of ailing JAL from taking any major policy decision without a prior nod from the NCLAT.
The top court asked mining giant Vedanta Ltd and successful resolution applicant, Adani Enterprises Ltd, to raise contentions and counterclaims before the NCLAT, which will commence final hearing on the row on April 10.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the NCLAT to decide the plea and the counter petition expeditiously on the dispute over the acquisition of JAL by the Adani group.
Earlier, Vedanta Ltd moved the top court seeking a stay on the order approving Adani Group's Rs 14,535 crore bid to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL).
Vedanta filed its appeal on March 25, a day after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) refused to stay implementation of the plan.
The insolvency appellate tribunal on March 24 declined any interim stay over the Vedanta Group's plea against the order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approving the Adani Group's bid for acquiring JAL.
The NCLAT's two-member bench sought a response from the Committee of Creditors (CoC) of JAL within a week. It also directed to list the matter on April 10 for the next hearing.
Vedanta group was in the race to acquire JAL through an insolvency process, but the lenders in November last year approved the resolution plan of Adani Enterprises Ltd. The NCLT approved the Adani Group's bid.
Challenging the NCLT order, the Vedanta group has filed two appeals before the NCLAT. In the first, it has challenged the validity of the resolution plan, and in the second, it has challenged the approval of the plan by the CoC and the adjudicating authority -- the NCLT.
