Rat poison in watermelon killed family of 4 in Mumbai, finds probe

Forensic tests found zinc phosphide in the Dokadia family's viscera and the watermelon they ate on the ill-fated night. The findings have shifted the Mumbai Police probe from suspected food poisoning to tracing how the toxin entered the food.

In Short

• Four family members fell ill hours after a late-night meal last month
• Relatives who ate biryani remained unaffected, deepening suspicion
• Doctor first treated them at home before hospitalisation became urgent

The deaths of four members of a family in south Mumbai were caused by the presence of zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical commonly used in rat poison, according to findings from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Officials traced the substance in both the viscera of the victims and the watermelon consumed by the family shortly before they fell critically ill.

The FSL report has been submitted to the Mumbai Police, which is continuing its probe into the April 26 deaths of Abdul Dokadia, 44, his wife Nasreen, 35, and their daughters Ayesha, 16, and Zaineb, 13.

The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla in the Pydhonie area, had hosted relatives for a late-night family gathering on April 25. According to police officials, the family shared dinner with guests, including chicken biryani, before eating watermelon at around 1 am after the visitors had left.

Within hours, all four developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea and complained of symptoms resembling food poisoning.

A doctor was initially called to their residence and prescribed medicine before leaving. As their condition worsened, the family was rushed to hospital. One of the daughters was declared dead before admission at a private facility, while the remaining three died during treatment at Mumbai's government-run JJ Hospital.

Following the incident, the police registered an accidental death report and launched an investigation. Samples of the family's last meal, including chicken biryani, watermelon, water and other food items, were collected from the residence and sent for forensic examination.

Viscera samples from all four bodies were also forwarded for chemical analysis.

Police officials had earlier recorded statements from relatives who attended the gathering. The guests told officials that they had also consumed the biryani but did not suffer any illness, raising suspicion around the watermelon later consumed by the family.

While initial findings pointed towards food poisoning, the latest forensic report has shifted the focus of the investigation towards zinc phosphide poisoning. Officials, however, said it remained unclear whether the toxic substance was consumed accidentally or deliberately.

Officials said no strong evidence has emerged so far to suggest the family took the extreme step intentionally. Statements of relatives, neighbours and other witnesses have been recorded as part of the ongoing probe.

Authorities also clarified that the deaths were not caused by watermelon itself, but by the toxic chemical found in it. Further investigation is underway to determine how the zinc phosphide entered the food consumed by the family.

- Ends