Swarna Bar Adulterated Liquor: SIT

Vijayawada: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government to investigate the death of five persons and hospitalisation of 29 others in Vijayawada on Thursday squarely blamed Swarna Restaurant and Bar for the tragedy.

A report submitted by Prohibition and Excise commissioner M.K. Meena to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, states that the adulteration of liquor took place in the bar itself and not at the breweries. The bar manager, cashier, supervisors and workers were arrested on Tuesday. Incidentally, during interrogation, the arrested bar staff reportedly confessed that they mixed some chemical in the liquor served to customers in the bar on Monday. However, they could not name the chemical.

Doctors treating the victims suspect that the liquor served in Swarna Restaurant and Bar was laced with some poison or a high dose of chemicals, resulting in the death of five persons.

The bar is owned by Vijayawada City Congress president Malladi Vishnu and his relatives.