Mumbai watermelon case: Forensic teams to examine utensils for rat poison clues and fingerprints

MUMBAI: Two weeks after forensics concluded that rat poison in watermelon had killed four of the Dokadia family, JJ Marg police have sent utensils, including plates, knives, and bowls, from their Pydhonie residence for forensic analysis..

Forensic lab officials said it would take a few days for the results to come in as the utensils will be put through a wide array of tests to find traces of zinc phosphide, alongside fingerprints.

"This is to check how the chemical reached the insid of the watermelon, and if it was mixed or laced using a utensil," explained former FSL director Dr Rukmini Krishnamurthy.

"Fingerprints would be easier to extract unless someone has thoroughly washed them off. Poison would also be difficult to find if the utensils have been washed," Dr Krishnamurthy added.

On April 26 morning, Abdullah Dokadia (40), wife Nasreen (35) and two daughters, Aayesha (16) and Zainab (13) died in hospital hours after they had pulao for dinner and watermelon after midnight.

On May 7, forensic lab reports confirmed that traces of rat poison were found in the organs of the four deceased, as well as the watermelon.

Police said there are no suspects as of now. They have found several medications in the Dokadia residence, but no major ailment has been established so far.