The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday transferred Dewas Collector Ritu Raj and Superintendent of Police Puneet Gahlot — days after reports of suspected spurious liquor deaths in several villages in the district triggered a controversy over the administration’s initial response in the matter.

The Dewas district administration had initially dismissed allegations that a spate of deaths in Chandana village was linked to the consumption of spurious liquor, describing reports of hooch deaths as “false and misleading”.

In a statement issued on October 24, the administration said 10 people had died in the village between October 1 and 15, but maintained that none of them resulted from poisonous liquor.

It attributed the deaths to various causes, including old age, common illnesses, brain haemorrhage, accidents while working in fields, and pre-existing health conditions aggravated by excessive alcohol consumption.

The administration also said that liquor seized during the investigation came from licensed shops…