Mumbai: Forensic investigations into the deaths of a Mumbai family of four have ruled out food poisoning caused by watermelon and instead pointed to poisoning by a toxic substance commonly used in rat poison. Officials said traces of zinc phosphide were detected in the bodies of the victims as well as in samples of the watermelon they had consumed before falling ill.
The deceased were identified as Abdullah Dokadia, 45, his wife Nasreen, 35, and their daughters Zainab, 13, and Ayesha, 16. According to investigators, the family had hosted relatives for dinner at their residence, where mutton pulao was served. Hours after the guests left, the family reportedly ate watermelon around 1 am. By early morning, all four developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea and died within a short span.
Sources said forensic experts later confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rodenticide, in both the victims’ viscera and the fruit samples. Investigators are now examining whether the watermelon was accidentally contaminated or intentionally laced with poison.
Earlier postmortem findings had raised suspicion after several internal organs, including the brain, heart and intestines, showed a greenish discoloration, often associated with poisoning. Investigators had also detected traces of morphine in Abdullah Dokadia’s body and were probing whether it was linked to medical treatment, accidental exposure or any other circumstance.
Police had initially registered an accidental death case and questioned relatives who attended the dinner. Officials noted that the guests, who consumed the pulao served that night, did not report any illness.
