Aurangabad Gets ₹125-Crore Malt Distillery as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Hill Tragedy Shakes Region
Allied Blenders and Distillers has approved a ₹125 crore capital contribution through its subsidiary Minakshi Agro Industries LLP to build a new malt distillery in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, targeting commissioning by the third quarter of FY28. The investment marks a significant industrial expansion for the city. The region has simultaneously been gripped by grief following a devastating incident at Khavda Hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where a family of three lost their lives after an 18-year-old stood at the edge of the cliff and his parents fell trying to pull him to safety.
🏢 Allied Blenders Approves ₹125-Crore Capital Infusion for Aurangabad Malt Distillery
Allied Blenders and Distillers’ Management Committee has approved a total capital contribution of up to ₹125 crore to its subsidiary Minakshi Agro Industries LLP for the establishment of a new malt distillery in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and to cover project cost overruns, according to Sahi. The capital allocation is divided into two parts: up to ₹115 crore for the core construction of the malt distillery and associated maturation warehouse in Aurangabad, and an additional ₹10 crore to address cost overruns in existing bottling and distillery projects already underway. The Aurangabad malt distillery is planned to have an annual production capacity of approximately three million bulk liters and is targeted for commissioning by the third quarter of FY28. The project represents Allied Blenders’ continued push into premiumisation and backward integration as part of its long-term growth strategy. The company’s consolidated Q1 FY27 net sales stood at ₹978.9 crore, representing a 6.1 percent year-on-year growth. The funding for the Aurangabad project may be structured as additional capital contribution or financial assistance, potentially supported by external debt backed by a corporate guarantee. The investment is expected to enhance the company’s domestic malt spirit production capacity and support its ongoing strategy of expanding in the premium spirits segment. [1]
🏢 Distillery Project Details: 3 Million BL Capacity, Q3 FY28 Target
Allied Blenders and Distillers approved a total capital contribution of ₹125 crore for its subsidiary Minakshi Agro Industries LLP on September 11, 2026, with the Management Committee of the Board of Directors signing off on the investment on that date, according to scanx.trade. The core allocation of ₹115 crore covers the construction of a malt distillery and maturation warehouse located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, with a planned production capacity of approximately three million bulk liters per year. The project completion is targeted for the third quarter of FY28. A further ₹10 crore was approved to meet cost overruns in previously sanctioned projects, including a bottling unit and a distillery. These overruns are attributed to increased prices of key metals and marginal expansions needed to accommodate longer automated bottling lines. The funding structure involves additional capital contribution or financial assistance, potentially supported by external debt with a corporate guarantee. The new facility will add substantially to Allied Blenders’ malt spirit production capabilities. The company had previously established grain-based distillery capacity of 61.5 million bulk liters. The Aurangabad project is intended as part of the company’s ongoing premiumisation drive, aiming to capture higher-margin segments of the spirits market by increasing its in-house malt distilling capacity. [3]
Family of Three Perishes After Teenager Stands at Edge of Khavda Hill
A heartbreaking tragedy in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has claimed the lives of a family of three, according to NDTV. An 18-year-old boy stood at the edge of Khavda Hill for nearly three hours as his parents, villagers, and police attempted to persuade him to step back from the precipice. When the teenager moved closer to the edge, his father moved to pull him to safety, but both the father and the son fell from the hill. Moments later, the teenager’s mother also fell. Reports cited by NDTV suggest that an argument over an iPhone EMI payment may have preceded the incident. The family’s pet remained at home waiting for their return. The tragedy has drawn widespread attention across Maharashtra, with the incident highlighting the pressures and disputes that can escalate within families. The loss of the entire family unit in a single catastrophic event at Khavda Hill has deeply affected the local community and prompted widespread discussion about mental health and family communication. The three deaths represent one of the most poignant and widely reported incidents to emerge from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar area in recent times, bringing grief not only to those who knew the family but to people across the state who followed the reports. [5]
Sources: [1] Sahi · [3] scanx.trade · [5] NDTV