A shocking twist has emerged in the tragic death of a family of four in Mumbai after forensic investigators confirmed that the victims did not die from ordinary food poisoning, but from a toxic rodenticide found in the watermelon they consumed.
According to forensic reports, traces of zinc phosphite — a poisonous chemical commonly used in rat poison — were detected in the bodies of all four victims as well as in samples of the watermelon eaten by the family. Authorities are now investigating whether the contamination was accidental or intentional.
The deceased were identified as Abdullah Dokadia (45), his wife Nasreen (35), and their daughters Zainab (13) and Ayesha (16). The family had hosted relatives for dinner at their Mumbai residence, serving mutton pulao during the gathering. Hours later, after their guests had left, the family reportedly ate watermelon around 1 am.
By early morning, all four developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Their condition rapidly deteriorated, and they died within hours.
Initial postmortem findings had already raised suspicions after doctors discovered a greenish discoloration in internal organs including the brain, heart, and intestines — a sign often associated with poisoning. Investigators had also found traces of morphine in Abdullah Dokadia’s body, adding another layer of mystery to the case.
Police had initially registered the incident as an accidental death because relatives who attended the dinner and consumed the same pulao remained unharmed. However, the latest forensic findings have shifted the focus entirely toward the contaminated watermelon.
Authorities are now examining all possible angles, including whether the poisonous substance entered the fruit accidentally during storage or handling, or if it was deliberately injected.
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