Traces of toxic chemical in Rehab’s body: FSL

The Versova police said reports from the forensic science laboratory (FSL) of Rehab Choughule’s stomach wash revealed that there were traces of aluminium phosphide, a chemical used during the pest control carried out at her house.

The Versova police said reports from the forensic science laboratory (FSL) of Rehab Choughule’s stomach wash revealed that there were traces of aluminium phosphide, a chemical used during the pest control carried out at her house.

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Rehab’s post-mortem report, released by Cooper hospital last week, revealed that she had died of pneumonitis (lung inflammation) being poisoned by exposure to aluminium phosphide, said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police (zone 9). He added, “There were traces of the chemical in her lungs as well as stomach. We will now investigate if Rehab had consumed the aluminum phosphide or had accidentally inhaled it.”

Dighavkar also added that the grey powder found at the Choughule’s residence was confirmed to be aluminum phosphide, according to the FSL report. During investigations, the Versova police had arrested three people for using the poisonous chemical. Initially, the pest control contractor, who was fumigating the Choughule residence, was arrested. Almekar said that she bought the chemicals for pest-control from a Borivli-based chemical store, and the police arrested the store’s owner, HM Shah. Shah claimed to have procured the chemicals from a shop in Pune, following which the Pune-based shop owner Piyush Paraikh was arrested as well. The three have recently been released on bail.

Sources say that the Choughule family is presently in Muscat and have agreed to assist the police in the course of their investigation. He also added that the family was yet to decide on the exhumation of the body of Rameez, Rehab’s sibling, who died on July 3 after complaining of sickness hours after pest control was carried out at their residence.