Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Wanted Sagar hooch tragedy accused injured, arrested in police encounter
Police in Madhya Pradesh arrested Manish Lodhi, who was wanted in a spurious-liquor tragedy case.
His associate, Ashish Sahu, was arrested too.
Police said the two men fired at officers during an early-morning operation.
Lodhi was shot in the leg, and Sahu was injured while trying to escape.
Both men were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police said they found two homemade pistols, five bullets and a baseball bat.
The original tragedy happened after people allegedly drank unsafe liquor in parts of Sagar district.
Several people died, and the incident led to many arrests and a wider crackdown.
Manish Lodhi, wanted in the Sagar hooch tragedy case, was arrested after being injured in a police encounter.
His associate Ashish Sahu was also injured while allegedly trying to flee and was arrested.
Police said Lodhi and Sahu opened fire around 3 a.m. on Noniya Sesai Road in Sagar district.
Officers recovered two country-made pistols, five rounds and a baseball bat, according to officials.
The hooch tragedy followed alleged consumption of spurious liquor in Banda and Shahgarh, with FIRs filed against 33 people.
- Who
- Manish Lodhi, alias Yashwant, and his associate Ashish Sahu were arrested; Lodhi was the main accused sought in the case.
- What
- The two men were injured and arrested during a police encounter, with weapons and a baseball bat recovered.
- When
- Early Wednesday at around 3:00 a.m.; the hooch tragedy occurred in early September.
- Where
- Noniya Sesai Road Ghati in the Malthone police station area of Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh; the tragedy affected Banda and Shahgarh.
- Why
- Police were searching for Lodhi in connection with the alleged spurious-liquor tragedy and said the men opened fire during the operation.
- Wanted accused
- Manish Lodhi, alias Yashwant
- Reward for Lodhi
- Rs 30,000
- Associate arrested
- Ashish Sahu
- Recovered items
- Two country-made pistols, five rounds and a baseball bat
- Reported encounter time
- Around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday
- Case arrests
- Around 19 accused arrested
- FIRs registered
- 33 people named in FIRs at two police stations
- Earlier development
- Prime accused Ravi Lakhera was injured in a September 11 exchange of fire and arrested