Days after transfer as Sagar SP, IPS officer Anurag Sujania resigns amid ongoing liquor row in M.P.
IPS officer Anurag Sujania resigned shortly after being transferred to Sagar district, a move that follows the removal of the district collector amid a hooch tragedy that killed more than 25 people. The resignation adds pressure on the state government to address the illegal liquor trade and to ensure accountability for the deaths.
Anurag Sujania, an Indian Police Service officer who was transferred to the position of Superintendent of Police in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, submitted his resignation only a few days after taking up the post. His departure comes amid a continuing controversy over the illegal sale of locally brewed liquor that has plagued the district since a tragic incident in October that claimed the lives of more than 25 people. The tragedy prompted the state government to remove both Sujania and the district collector, Pratibha Pal, on October 27, citing a loss of public confidence. Sujania’s brief tenure and sudden exit have added another layer of uncertainty to the administration’s response to the crisis.
The liquor row has intensified after investigators uncovered evidence of unlicensed distilleries operating with the tacit support of local officials. Families of the victims have demanded accountability, and opposition parties have called for a thorough probe into the chain of command that allowed the sale of hazardous alcohol. For readers across India, the episode highlights the challenges of enforcing liquor laws in states where prohibition or strict regulation creates a black market that endangers public health. The resignation of a senior police officer signals that the pressure on law‑enforcement agencies is mounting and that political leadership may need to reassess its approach to the problem.
State authorities have announced that an independent inquiry will be set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the hooch tragedy and the subsequent administrative actions. The probe is expected to review the roles of both the police and the collector, as well as any political interference that may have compromised enforcement. Observers will watch for the findings of the inquiry, which could lead to further resignations, legal action, or reforms in the licensing system, and may influence how other Indian states handle similar illicit liquor issues.
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