Nearly 10 days after four members of a family in south Mumbai died of food poisoning, police on Thursday said the deaths were caused by rat poison.
Confirming the new development in the case, police said that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide in the viscera (liver, kidney and spleen), stomach contents, bile and abdominal fat samples of the deceased identified as Abdullah Dhokadia (44), his wife Nasreen (35) and their daughters Aisha (16) and Zainab (13), PTI reported.
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The couple and their teenage daughters reportedly died on April 27 after eating dinner at their relative’s house the night before, HT reported earlier. Police ruled the case out as a suicide pact and were investigating it as a case of food poisoning.
Earlier deaths were linked to watermelon
The deaths are suspected to be linked to watermelon eaten by the family. Police sent samples of the food they ate at dinner for forensic examination, including watermelon and other foods found in the house.
In a new investigation, police said on Thursday that a watermelon sample also tested positive for zinc phosphide, while all other food substances tested negative.
“The report will be studied in depth. We will consult forensic doctors. The case is being investigated further,” the police were quoted as saying.
Zinc phosphide is primarily used as a highly toxic acute rodenticide to control rats and mice.
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“Forensic experts who examined the entrails of the deceased Abdullah Dukadia, Nasreen (35), Aisha (16) and Zainab (13) found traces of zinc phosphide. However, it is unclear whether the rat poison was consumed accidentally (or intentionally). Another official said: “So far, we have not found a solid reason why the entire family would take such an extreme step.”
He added that JJ Marg police station was conducting another investigation and had recorded statements from relatives and neighbours.
The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurti Road, hosted a gathering of their relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 a.m., hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia, his wife Nasreen, and their two daughters, Aisha and Zainab, ate slices of watermelon.
A family of four went in one day
It was initially reported that the four had dinner with Abdullah’s brothers, children and other family members on April 26, where they were served a chicken dish prepared by the Doukadias family.
While the relatives left at 11.30pm, the Dokadia family stayed awake for a while. At around 1.30am, they cut a watermelon and ate half of it.
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However, their health began to deteriorate on Sunday as the four began vomiting and developed diarrhea-like symptoms early on Sunday. The vomiting did not stop despite taking medications at home, and then they asked their relatives for help. They were admitted to MH Saboo Siddique Hospital in Dongri, a police officer told HT earlier.
But as their condition deteriorated, they were shifted to JJ Hospital for advanced treatment. Zainab was the first to die, then her mother in the afternoon. Aisha died at around 10.15pm, and her father died shortly afterwards.
(With inputs from HT’s Vinay Dalvi)
