Pune: Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan on Saturday said the death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad has risen to 17 or 18, as the state government cracked the whip and suspended 22 police and excise department personnel for not acting against the illegal liquor trade.
A senior police official, however, said the death toll was 15. Eight persons, including the suppliers of the methanol which was added to the liquor, have been arrested so far.
