India, May 30 -- The alleged kingpin in the liquor tragedy is notorious bootlegger Yogesh Wankhede, investigators said on Thursday. Police have arrested Yogesh Wankhede and are now interrogating him to trace the supply chain and identify distributors.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the liquor was allegedly manufactured by Radheshyam Prajapati, an illegal liquor manufacturer, in Uruli Kanchan. It was then given to Yogesh Wankhede who handles Prajapati's transport and distribution networks. Wankhede allegedly mixed ethanol in the liquor and distributed it across various parts of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

According to state excise officials, Wankhede has multiple criminal cases registered against him. State excise commissioner At...