Overview
- Forensic tests, received Thursday, found zinc phosphide in the watermelon and in the viscera of all four Dokadia family members.
- Police searching the home Friday recovered only herbal, peppermint-based rat repellents without zinc phosphide, which residents said they used because of a rat problem in the old Mogul building.
- JJ Marg police restarted the case and replaced the investigating officer after delays in finding how the poison reached the fruit.
- Investigators are reviewing CCTV, speaking to pharmacists, recording statements from more than 20 rodenticide vendors, and re-questioning relatives and other contacts while ruling out a viral Malad fruit-stall video as unrelated.
- The family ate watermelon at about 1:30 am on April 26 after relatives left around 10:30 pm and died within 12 hours, and police are focusing on the unexplained three-hour gap.