Suspected spurious liquor claims two lives in Annamayya district, probe underway

Two software engineers were reported dead after consuming liquor under suspicious circumstances in Bandavaddapalli village of KV Palle mandal, Annamayya district, on Saturday night (January 17, 2026). The incident came to light on Sunday (January 18), raising doubts on the quality of the liquor.

According to information, six youths identified as Manikumar, Pushparaj, Sravan, Abhishek, Venu, and Shivamani gathered on a hillock near their village to consumed liquor. They reportedly purchased 16 beer bottles from a liquor outlet in KV Palli on Saturday evening.

In the middle of the party, two of them reportedly fell ill, complaining of heartburn and severe headaches. They were rushed to the government area hospital in Piler, 20 km away. The doctors declared Manikumar (36) and Pushparaj (28), who work as software professionals in Chennai and Bengaluru, brought dead. The four others were stated to be safe.

The KV Palle police said that the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained. “We are waiting for the post mortem report, which would reveal whether the deaths were due to excessive consumption of liquor or due to intake of any adulterated liquor. We will also send the samples of the liquor for the forensic examination,” a police officer said.