State Excise and police department last month seized 78 gunny bags of poisonous Chloral Hydrate used for mixing in Toddy in May this year. Three persons have been arrested in this connection and a case has been registered by Aarey Milk Colony police station under 328, 273, 34 of IPC and section 65 (E) and 78 of Maharashtra Prohibition Act and section 6 (1)(A) Poisonous Substances Act 1991.
This was stated by Minister for State Excise Chandrashekhar Bawankule in a written reply to a starred question raised by Ameet Satam (BJP) and others in the legislative assembly yesterday.
In his written reply, the Minister admitted that it was partially true that the poisonous Chloral Hydrate was used in making of Toddy in Mumbai. He added that there were no cases were reported of people feeling uneasy, vomiting, dizziness and people getting unconscious.
Satam queried whether the adulterated Toddy was being supplied across the 250 Toddy outlets in Mumbai. The Minister further replied that during the raid and seizure operation, the State Excise and police department seized 78 gunny bags weighing about 2,184 Kgm costing each about Rs 2,000, valued at Rs 43,68,000. The excise and police seized other material worth Rs 45,34,300. The case is under investigation, he added.
Chloral Hydrate is a geminal diol and is a colorless solid. It has limited use a sedative and hypnotic pharmaceutical drug. It is easily soluble in water and ethanol. Because of its status and use in Pharmaceutical industry in preparation of sedative drugs its use is regulated. It is used for short-term treatment of insomnia and some dental treatments. Upon its administration, it is effective within 20 to 60 minutes. However, prolonged exposure to the substance can cause addiction. The dangerous side effects include rashes, gastric discomfort and severe kidney, heart, and liver failure. Acute over dosage is often characterized by nausea, vomiting, confusion, convulsions, slow and irregular breathing, cardiac arrhythmia, and coma.