India, June 5 -- Against the backdrop of the Pune hooch tragedy that claimed 20 lives, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the licence of Rex International, the company accused of supplying methanol stock that was allegedly diverted to bootleggers for the manufacture of spurious liquor.

The action is part of a wider crackdown on the methanol supply chain across Maharashtra. The FDA has ordered inspections of all 937 operational firms holding methanol licences in the state, with the exercise expected to be completed within the next seven days. Officials said the drive aims to identify regulatory violations and prevent the diversion of industrial methanol for illicit liquor production.

The decision was taken following dir...