Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 30: A 24-year-old woman allegedly died after consuming a soft drink laced with a poisonous substance in Chembur, with police arresting her boyfriend Ashish Magar on suspicion of murder.
The incident took place on August 25 at Bungalow No 57-A in Mysore Colony in the RCF police station limits. The woman, identified as Vishnumaya, was reportedly around two-and-a-half months pregnant.
According to police, Vishnumaya and Magar had an argument on the night of August 25, allegedly over his suspicion about her character. After the argument subsided, Magar allegedly gave her a soft drink containing a poisonous substance.
The woman consumed the drink without knowing what it contained and soon began suffering severe discomfort and vomiting. Initially, her family reportedly did not suspect foul play. However, when her condition deteriorated and she collapsed, they became suspicious and rushed her first to a private hospital and subsequently to Shatabdi Hospital, where she was declared dead.
Before her condition worsened, Vishnumaya reportedly told her family that Magar had given her the soft drink and that she began feeling unwell after consuming it. The family subsequently informed the police.
Doctors reportedly suspected poisoning as the cause of death. A post-mortem examination also indicated the presence of a poisonous substance, according to reports. The examination reportedly found that the woman was around two-and-a-half months pregnant.
Police said Magar initially attempted to mislead investigators and portray the death as natural or accidental. However, during a detailed investigation, officers examined witness statements, circumstantial evidence and other material connected with the case.
Investigators subsequently suspected Magar's involvement. Police alleged that he had mixed a poisonous substance, reported by Marathi media as mothball or “dambar” tablets, into the soft drink and given it to Vishnumaya. He was later arrested.
The RCF police registered a murder case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on August 28. Magar was produced before a court, which remanded him to five days of police custody. Inspector Ramdas Patil is leading the investigation.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning, the motive and the evidence gathered from the scene.
The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of senior Mumbai Police officials, including Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner Manojkumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni, Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shaikh and Senior Inspector Dattatray Patil.