Gujarat : Death Toll Reaches Seven in Kheda Syrup Scam, Mumbai Supplier Arrested

Ahmedabad : Another casualty has been reported at an Ahmedabad government hospital, marking the death toll at seven in the Kheda Syrup scam in Gujarat. Additionally, Kheda police have apprehended a supplier from Mumbai linked to the accused operating a syrup factory in Nadiad.

The latest victim, 72-year-old Sankar Sodha, succumbed at the government hospital in Ahmedabad. He fell ill after consuming the ayurvedic syrup, initially receiving treatment at a Nadiad hospital before being referred to the Ahmedabad government hospital. Despite four days of treatment, he succumbed early Wednesday morning

Yogesh Sindhi, one of the five accused in the syrup scandal, has been divulging critical information during police interrogation while on remand.

Kheda police conducted a search at Yogesh Sindhi’s factory near Nadiad’s Mokumpura on Monday, seizing numerous bottles filled with the syrup and chemicals from the premises.

According to Sindhi’s statement to the police, he learned about manufacturing the syrup from an acquaintance while serving a sentence in another case. Upon release, he established a factory, building a network across central Gujarat and expanding his market. To produce the syrup, he required Ethanol, establishing a business relationship with Taufiq, a Mumbai-based supplier.

The Kheda SIT team apprehended Taufiq in Mumbai, slated to appear before the court on Thursday.

In connection to the scam, Vadodara police handed over two other key players, Nitin Kotwani and Bhavesh Saukani, to Kheda police. The trial court granted a 12-day remand for both accused on Wednesday.

Kotwani and Saukani have a criminal history associated with manufacturing similar syrups. They were previously arrested by Rajkot police in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar, leading to the sealing of their factory.