India, March 6 -- A spate of deaths due to liver-related complications in Haryana's Palwal district in January and February was primarily caused by "consumption of energy drinks" and "treatment by unqualified medical practitioners," the district deputy commissioner said Thursday, citing a report prepared by expert teams.

Acting on findings from the National Centre for Disease Control along with specialists from Pune and Chennai, the district administration has registered FIRs against five fake doctors and initiated an investigation into the energy drinks consumed by victims, said deputy commissioner Dr Harish Kumar Vashisht in another twist to the mysterious deaths reported in the region between January 6 and February 11.

He said that t...