Thanjavur Liquor Deaths: Police Suspect Presence Of Cyanide In Drink Consumed By Deceased Persons

However, it is still unclear if the deceased Vivek and Kuppusamy were known to each other.

A man undergoes treatment after allegedly drinking spurious liquor

Source : PTI

Tamil Nadu police are investigating whether cyanide was mixed in the drink which was consumed by Vivek, who died after consuming the alcohol purchased from a licensed out of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), in Thanjavur. The police also suspect that another person who died in the incident consumed the liquor left over by Vivek. 

According to IANS, Thanjavur police said that Vivek (35) had offered liquor to another person before consuming it but that person refused to drink it. 

So, the police suspect that Vivek was deliberately given a poisoned drink. The police also ruled out the suicide theory. 

The police are also probing if the woman with whom Vivek was in a relationship had any role in the death, sources told IANS. 

The police are also investigating if any goldsmith was involved in the death since goldsmiths procure the cyanide. The cops are trying to get the list of persons who purchased liquor from the bar on the fateful day that led to the death of two persons. They are as well combing the CCTV footage near Tasmac outlet for more clarity. They are questioning about goldsmith shops in the vicinity of the bar.

However, another senior police officer told IANS that the suicide cannot be ruled out and added that a final report will be prepared in a couple of days' time after investigating the case from all angles.

Thanjavur SP Ashish Rawat told The News Minute that the forensic report revealed that there was no trace of methanol in the liquor but instead said that the duo died of cyanide poisoning. 

The district Collector also reportedly confirmed that the deaths were due to cyanide poisoning. However, it is still unclear if Vivek and Kuppusamy are known to each other.