Delhi Family Suicide: Poison Packets, Spoon with Suspicious Liquid Found in Vasant Kunj Flat

Delhi: The tragic death of a family of five, including a father and his four daughters, has left the Vasant Kunj area of Delhi in shock. The incident came to light on the Friday morning, when a PCR call was made by Nitin Chauhan, the owner of the building, after his caretaker noticed a foul smell coming from the third-floor apartment. The local police, with the assistance of the fire brigade, broke open the door and discovered the bodies of man with his 4 daughters. Police also discovered three packets of poison, a spoon, and glasses containing a suspicious liquid at the scene, raising immediate suspicions of a mass suicide.

Timeline of Events Leading to the Discovery

• September 24, 2024: Neighbors last saw the family members, a 42-year-old man and his daughters aged 26, 24, 23, and 20, on this evening. There was no further movement observed after this point.
• September 27, 2024: The PCR call was made by Nitin Chauhan, the building owner around 10:18am in the morning. Chauhan reported a strong, foul smell coming from the third-floor flat. He mentioned that despite repeated knocking, the tenants had not responded for days. His caretaker had noticed the odor earlier during routine cleaning and alerted him.
• Police and Fire Brigade Arrive: Upon arrival, police officers, with assistance from the fire brigade, forced open the door, which had been bolted from the inside. The family was found in two separate rooms, the 42-year-old father in one room and his four daughters in another.
• Suspicious Findings at the Scene: Inside the apartment, police discovered three open packets of Celphos poison, five glasses, and a spoon containing a suspicious liquid, believed to have been used in the mass suicide. No visible injury marks were found on the bodies.
   

Family Struggles After Mother's Death

According to family members and neighbors, deceased had been struggling emotionally since the death of his wife to cancer a year ago. Deceased had worked as a carpenter at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre for 28 years but stopped attending work in January 2024. 

The family had been socially isolated, with victim primarily focused on his daughters, two of whom were differently abled. His brother and sister-in-law confirmed that their father had withdrawn from family affairs, and the daughters were rarely seen outside their room, as per the official record. 

Suspicious Substances Found

Team of Senior Doctors of Forensic Department from Safdarjung Hospital were called to inspect the spot and the dead bodies. No injury marks were found on the dead bodies, however three packets of Celphos poison, and 5 glasses and a spoon containing suspicious liquid were found inside the house. 

Initial investigations point towards suicide.

Delhi Police have initiated proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC and have formed a medical board for post-mortem examinations. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining all possible angles to uncover the cause of the tragic deaths.

Further details are awaited as forensic results and post-mortem reports become available.