Authorities are currently investigating the tragic deaths of two young sisters, aged two and a half months and three years, while their parents are receiving treatment in a hospital. Initial inquiries have largely dismissed the theory that the dosa batter they consumed was responsible for the fatalities, particularly since the younger child, Raha, was too young for solid food. This has added complexity to the ongoing investigation.
A prayer meeting took place on Wednesday morning at the residential complex in Chandkheda to honor the memory of Raha and her elder sister, Mishri, who both passed away within a span of two days under unexplained circumstances.
Raha passed away on April 4, followed by Mishri on April 5. Their parents, Vimal and Bhavna Prajapati, are currently hospitalized at KD Hospital. They informed police that they suspected food poisoning due to dosas made from a pre-packaged batter purchased from a nearby dairy, located less than 500 meters from their residence.
Following a preliminary investigation, authorities questioned how a two-and-a-half-month-old infant could consume dosa, which has led them to downplay the possibility of the batter being the cause of death.
On April 7, Raha’s remains were exhumed by the Chandkheda police for a panel postmortem examination, as the family had buried her without notifying local authorities. The police were only alerted after Mishri’s death on April 5.
On the evening of April 8, officers from both the Chandkheda police station and the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) were present at Maruti Plaza Residency, where they monitored the area, interviewed neighbors, and gathered information.
The postmortem findings for both children, along with toxicology reports for their parents and food sample analyses from their home and the dairy, are still pending.
During their investigation, Crime Branch officers reviewed CCTV footage showing Vimal purchasing the dosa batter, while Bhavna was seen returning a batch she claimed was “spoiled.” The owner of the dairy, who requested anonymity, stated that they produce 90 kilograms of dosa batter daily and noted that no other customers reported issues with the product purchased by Vimal on April 1.
A senior police official involved in the investigation remarked, “None of it is adding up.” After several days of inquiry, investigators believe it is increasingly likely that the children were poisoned through a different means.
Police sources indicate that they have largely dismissed the idea that the dosa batter was the cause of the children’s deaths. Investigators also looked into the possibility of mass suicide but found no evidence of financial struggles or familial disputes that would suggest such a motive. It is worth noting that both Vimal and his father work as insurance agents, while Bhavna is a housewife with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her father operates a pharmacy in Maninagar.
Nevertheless, police have not excluded the possibility of intentional poisoning linked to a bias against female children, although this line of inquiry remains at an early stage.
The investigation commenced after Vimal reported the death of his younger daughter on April 5. An Accidental Death report was subsequently filed at the Chandkheda police station, with the Crime Branch joining the investigation on April 7.
On April 6, Inspector Makwana stated, “Prajapati informed police that he purchased dosa batter from the dairy on IOCL road in Chandkheda on April 1. The family prepared dosas from this batter and consumed them on April 1 and 2. They initially fell ill but recovered after treatment and did not seek further medical attention. However, their condition deteriorated, leading to Raha’s death on April 4. They conducted her last rites without notifying authorities. The following day, Mishri lost consciousness and was admitted to KD Hospital, where she tragically passed away on April 5. Prajapati then reported her death to the police.”
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