Vijayawada Hooch Tragedy: Swarna Bar owner arrested

The police on Friday arrested Malladi Srinivas, the owner of the Swarna Bar, where spurious liquor claimed five lives and caused hospitalisation of another 29 in Vijayawada.

The arrest comes a day after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government blamed Swarna Restaurant and Bar in its report for the tragedy.
A report submitted by Prohibition and Excise commissioner M.K. Meena to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, stated 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. During interrogation, the arrested bar staff reportedly confessed that they mixed some chemical in the liquor served to customers in the bar on Monday.
Malladi Srinivas is a close relative of former Vijayawad Central MLA Malladi Vishnu. The former MLA has been included in the chargesheet at A 9 (accused No 9).