Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Demands Absolute Crackdown on Illicit Liquor Networks Following Pune Tragedy

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale called upon law enforcement agencies to implement immediate and permanent eradication measures against illegal bootlegging operations across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

June 1, 2026 | Pune: Highlighting the severe and lethal nature of locally brewed illicit liquor, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale demanded a comprehensive operational strategy from the police department to dismantle these networks permanently. The central minister issued this firm directive during a press conference organized shortly after his personal visit to grieving families affected by the recent toxic spurious liquor tragedy spanning Pune and the neighboring Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial belt.

Flanked by senior political leaders and city representatives, the minister emphasized that temporary raids are insufficient to curb the systemic spread of toxic moonshine. He insisted on a highly coordinated administrative crackdown targeting production units and distribution pipelines that exploit vulnerable segments of society. The forum also served as a political platform, where the central minister and regional party representatives assessed the social welfare and regulatory failures that allowed the illegal distribution channels to operate unchecked within metropolitan limits.

Shifting the agenda toward state political affairs, the minister addressed his party’s positioning regarding the upcoming legislative council elections. While acknowledging that the Republican Party of India did not formally claim a candidacy in the immediate rounds due to insufficient mathematical leverage in the house, he reminded allies of explicit prior assurances from state leadership promising them representation. The party expects to secure one seat in the forthcoming elections for five legislative vacancies, alongside chairmanships of two state-owned public corporations.

The leadership confirmed that detailed discussions will soon be initiated with regional coalition partners to finalize the promised political appointments and state board allocations. Moving forward, the minister asserted that while political representation remains critical for community growth, the immediate administrative priority remains achieving absolute zero-tolerance against illicit liquor manufacturing hubs to safeguard public health and prevent further loss of innocent lives across urban clusters.

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