The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested the main accused in a spurious liquor case that has killed 21 people in the district of Etah so far. Shripal was caught from the state’s Nayagaon area, police said. PTI reported that five government employees, of which three were from the state’s excise department, have been suspended. According to ANI, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered their suspension after he was informed about the incident.

The issue surfaced on Friday, when five people from the Luhari Darwaja and Laukhera villages died after consuming country-made liquor from the Shirpal’s shop. By Saturday night, fourteen people had died and six others had lost their eyesight.

The state has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the victims, said Ajay Yadav, the district magistrate. The government has also promised to pay for the treatment of those who lost their eyesight. A case has been registered under the Excise Act and also under the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide.