Adda owner Langda always drank 'English', say victims

Sikandar Vishwakarma (40) and Dashrath Bhagwan Kale (35), both victims of the hooch tragedy, are wallowing in pain in ward number five of Sion Hospital. Sikandar and Dashrath share a common bed due to lack of space.

They are unaware of the fact that on the fateful day of June 19, they had consumed poisonous methyl alcohol instead of their regular fix of ethyl alcohol at Raju Langda's 'adda'. On Wednesday, the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina confirmed that only methanol was detected in body organs, blood and urine of the victims.

Dashrath, who works as a casual day-labourer in Malvani, said, "Raju never drank alcohol with us. He never used to touch 'Desi daru'. He always had English (liquor). Desi is for poor people like us, who cannot afford branded alcohol. Raju always sat with a bottle of branded beer, preferably Kingfisher, while we downed country liquor."

Both regulars at Raju's joint, Sikandar and Dashrath said that Raju's left leg is severed up to the thigh and hence he was addressed as 'Langda'. "Raju does not have one leg. His wife is mute. They have been running their business for over 10 years. We always go to their joint to drink," said Dashrath.

Raju used to buy five litres of alcohol for Rs350 and dilute it with water to double the quantity. Then he used to put it in 200ml pouches and sell them for Rs10 each. A bottle of 400ml country liquor was sold for Rs20, said the victims.

On June 19, Dashrath, an alcoholic, drank over one litre of alcohol between 7am and 8pm in small quantities. "I had alcohol worth Rs90 that day. While 10 years ago, I used to drink branded alcohol, I resorted to country liquor as prices of branded alcohol went up. I barely earn Rs200 a day. After giving a chunk of that at home, I spend the rest on drink," said Dashrath. Formerly a skilled zari worker, Dashrath lost his job a few years back.

Sikander, a carpenter, had drunk 400ml of the poisoned liquor. His brother-in-law Datta died in the tragedy. His friend Prashant Mohite, who also consumed alcohol that day has gone blind and is admitted in Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central.

"We have come out alive of a nightmare. We never knew that the stuff we had consumed that day was poisonous. We will never touch alcohol again," said Sikander.