The Russian Investigative Committee said 74 people have died and 31 remain hospitalized after consuming Boyaryshnik (Hawthorn), a dangerous methylated spirit, in the Siberian city.
"Currently, 19 people are detained in connection with the criminal case," the committee said.
The committee named Mikhail Luzhnov as Irkutsk Region's consumer watchdog deputy chief it suspects of negligence.
"Luzhnov, the investigation believes, has not taken the necessary measures to verify these facts in the appeals," it said, referring to repeated requests from citizens to ban the illegal sale of Boyaryshnik since May this year.
The Russian investigators said that additional investigative activities are underway, and further decisions are pending on officials and law enforcement members in Irkutsk Region.
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