Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 20: Fresh forensic findings in the shocking Mumbai watermelon death case have intensified suspicions of deliberate poisoning after investigators reportedly detected traces of zinc phosphide in both the victims and the watermelon consumed by the Dokadia family in Pydhonie.
Police now suspect that salt allegedly mixed with the toxic substance may have been rubbed onto the watermelon before it was eaten, leading to the deaths of four members of the family.
The incident reportedly occurred on the night of April 25, 2026, when the Dokadia family consumed watermelon at their residence in south Mumbai. Shortly afterwards, all four family members allegedly developed severe vomiting, dizziness and stomach pain, with their condition rapidly worsening over the following hours.
Relatives rushed the family to Sir JJ Hospital after the two daughters were reportedly found unconscious at home. One daughter was declared dead on arrival, while the second succumbed during treatment a few hours later. The parents, who were also undergoing treatment, later died.
According to investigators, a forensic report from Sir JJ Hospital has now confirmed zinc phosphide poisoning as the cause of death in all four cases. Traces of the toxic substance were allegedly found in biological samples collected from the deceased as well as in the watermelon recovered from the family’s residence.
The findings have significantly strengthened the poisoning angle in the investigation. Police have sent salt samples recovered from the house for detailed forensic examination after suspecting that the poison may have been mixed with the salt and applied to the fruit before consumption.
Officials are also trying to determine how the toxic substance entered the household, as investigators reportedly found no other traces of zinc phosphide elsewhere inside the residence. Police are examining all possible angles, including whether the contamination was intentional or accidental.
The histopathology report has further raised suspicion after forensic experts reportedly observed greenish discolouration in liver and kidney tissues of the deceased — a condition commonly linked to zinc phosphide exposure.
A specialised team of forensic experts and doctors from Sir JJ Hospital is currently reviewing all medical and forensic evidence related to the case, while Mumbai Police continue investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.