Hooch Tragedy ‘panch’ witness gets threat

Mumbai: A witness in the June 2015 hooch tragedy case alleged before the trial court on Friday that he received a threat asking him not to speak against an accused in the court. The witness is a 'panch' witness in front of whom the house search of the two accused in the case was undertaken.

In June 2015, at least 90 persons had died as a result of consuming spurious alcohol in Malad. According to the police, the victims had suffered methanol poisoning that had been added to the liquor. A witness on his second day of the testimony on Friday told the judge that some youths had came to his society, enquired about him and then left a message for him that one of the accused in the case against whom he is deposing as a witness is working for some Mama and he should refrain from speaking against him in the court.

Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat also confirmed the news that a witness has complained to court about receiving a threat. Gharat said that the judge has asked the police to record the complaint in this regard and take appropriate action.

The witness was connected to the recovery of certain materials during house searches of two accused. Prosecution said police had recovered certain important material.