Mumbai family deaths: Bodies turn green; No food adulteration found
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Mumbai: No adulteration has been detected in the food consumed by a family of four who died in Mumbai’s Pydhonie area after reportedly eating watermelon and biryani, officials confirmed on Saturday, even as investigators await crucial toxicology findings.
The deceased — 40-year-old Abdullah Dokadia, his 35-year-old wife Nasreen, and their daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (13) — died on April 26 following a sudden deterioration in health initially suspected to be caused by food poisoning.
Preliminary investigations by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found no harmful or adulterated substances in 11 food samples collected from the family’s residence. These included biryani, watermelon, water stored in earthen pots and in the refrigerator, raw and cooked rice, raw and cooked chicken, dates, and spices.
However, post-mortem findings have raised fresh concerns. According to police, morphine — a painkiller — was detected in the bodies, along with an unusual green discolouration in certain tissues, a phenomenon that may indicate exposure to a toxic substance. Officials emphasised that definitive conclusions can only be drawn after the toxicology report is released.
The case first came to light when Abdullah Dokadia was admitted to the hospital on April 26. He reportedly told doctors that all four family members experienced severe health complications after consuming watermelon. All of them later succumbed.
Mumbai Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched a multi-angle investigation. “We are examining the case from all perspectives. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached yet. We are awaiting detailed reports from the Kalina Forensic Laboratory, the FDA, and JJ Hospital,” an investigating officer said.
Authorities noted that no suspicious financial transactions have been identified so far. Statements from relatives describe the family as “happy”, with no known disputes or concerns.
Meanwhile, officials from the Kalina Forensic Laboratory revealed that preliminary examination of viscera samples has detected unidentified foreign particles. “Initial findings indicate the presence of foreign substances in the samples. It is not yet clear whether these are toxic, medicinal, or of another nature. Detailed analysis is ongoing,” an official stated.
Investigators are also analysing call detail records, digital communications, and other electronic data, but no concrete leads have emerged so far.
The forthcoming toxicology report is expected to determine whether any poison was involved and establish the timeline of its ingestion, which could prove critical in solving the case.
With IANS inputs