After 13 yrs, 2 acquitted in Versova siblings’ pesticide poisoning case | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Even as a sessions court accepted that the deaths were homicidal, observing that there is no direct evidence against the accused, 13 years after the mysterious death of siblings Rehab and Rameez Chougle in Yari Road, a pest control contractor who fumigated their house and the pesticide supplier were both acquitted.
Acquitting Ruksar Almelkar (46) and Hitendra Shah (54) from the stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, judge NP Tribhuwan said, “Evidence of parents of the deceased is important, but prosecution failed to adduce their evidence. They are only the persons who can depose that accused No 1 (Almelkar) done the pest-control in their house.” During the trial that took over a decade, five witnesses including cops and a doctor deposed. Almelkar and Shah were out on bail.
On Jul 3, 2012, the fifth-floor flat of Gayasuddin and Farzana Chougle in Panch Dhara, Yari Road, was treated for bedbugs. After dinner that night, their daughter Rehab (26) and son Rameez (25) took ill with signs of pesticide poisoning. Rameez passed away on the morning of Jul 4; Rehab died two days later.
During the trial, the prosecution submitted reports, based on which the judge concluded that the murder was homicidal. “As per the CA (chemical analysis) reports, aluminium phosphide was found in the stomach of deceased Rehab. However, no poison or aluminium phosphide was found in the body samples of deceased Rameez, but as per CA report of viscera, aluminium phosphide was found in it. In view of the above admitted documents, it becomes clear that deceased Rameez and Rehab died due to aluminium phosphide poisoning (unnatural). Thus, it is established that the death of deceased is homicidal,” the judge said.
On Jul 30, 2012, the police learnt from Criti-Care Hospital about Rehab, admitted to ICU, and that her brother had died of similar symptoms. On Jul 4, 2012, Rameez died of vomiting and dysentery. Given the common occurrence of these illnesses in rains, no suspicion of foul play arose.
Rehab died on Jul 5, 2012. The parents stated they hired accused Almelkar and her employee for pest control in their house on Jul 3. The police found that Almelkar was not qualified to conduct pest control. An FIR was filed.