AHMEDABAD: Three men died after drinking “jeera soda” from a bottle in Nadiad town of Kheda late on Sunday evening. Senior police officers have ruled it out to be a case of spurious liquor consumption as no traces of methanol were found in their bodies.
Police officials suspect it to be either a case of targeted poisoning or a failed experiment with a new concoction.
The victims, Kanu Chauhan, 54, a deaf and speech-impaired man who operated a weighing machine; Ravindra Rathod, 49, a daily wage worker; and Yogesh Kushwaha, 40, a panipuri seller – all resided in the Jawaharnagar area.
“The primary report of the forensic science laboratory found the presence of 0.1% ethanol in the bodies. It could be because, according to their family members, they were all habitual drinkers,” said Kheda SP Rajesh Gadhia.
The family members also alleged that countrymade liquor was available in Jawaharnagar. The cops learned of the deaths around 9pm on Sunday after a medico-legal case was filed at Nadiad Civil Hospital.
“We came to know that three people died after having a drink on Sunday evening. As these were initially suspected to be hooch-related deaths, the probe was intensified. An eyewitness told police that he saw Chauhan drinking from a bottle of jeera soda and offering it to others. After the witness declined Chauhan’s offer, he gave the bottle to Rathod and Kushwaha. Both the men drank from the bottle,” Gadhia said. Rathod lost consciousness first, followed by Chauhan and Kushwaha.
Gadhia said that Rathod was brought dead to the hospital, whereas the other two died during their treatment.
“The cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest. Forensic experts told police that they may have died due to sodium nitrite or potassium cyanide poisoning as evidenced by blood clots in their bodies,” Gadhia said.
Nadiad police are now investigating whether Chauhan was a victim of intentional poisoning or a failed experiment using a new concoction.
“Cops have collected 80 empty bottles from a dustbin near the spot where the victims collapsed. These will be sent for forensic tests to check for traces of poison. Once we get the results, the course of further investigation will be decided,” Gadhia said. Nadiad town police have registered a case of accidental death, pending further forensic analysis.
