A Celebration Gone Wrong
A joyous occasion, meant to celebrate the birth of a granddaughter in Germany, was tragically marred by a suspected act of mass murder. Rachna Kapoor,
a 49-year-old widow and director of Global Vision Network, has recounted the horrifying experience where her family, including her daughter, advocate Ranjeeta Batra, her daughter's mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, fell gravely ill. The suspected culprit? Thallium, a highly toxic chemical, allegedly mixed into 'panjiri', a traditional Indian sweet preparation. The incident, which unfolded in Hemsburg, Germany, saw multiple family members fighting for their lives in the ICU, many requiring ventilator support within a mere ten days of consumption. Even the newborn granddaughter, who had only been breastfed for a single day, showed alarming levels of the poison in her system, highlighting the indiscriminate and devastating nature of the alleged attack.
The Invisible Threat
The insidious nature of thallium poisoning made the initial stages of the illness particularly deceptive. Rachna Kapoor herself experienced a severe deterioration in her health, eventually being airlifted back to India for treatment. Admitted to various hospitals, including Medanta and Sir Ganga Ram, before settling at Paras Hospital, doctors eventually confirmed the cause of their severe ailments: thallium poisoning. This chemical, as explained by medical professionals, is exceptionally dangerous, capable of inflicting internal damage and often evading detection in routine medical tests for the first three days. The stark reality of the poisoning is underscored by the medical reports from Germany, which showed a staggering thallium level of 47.0 in the newborn granddaughter's blood, a stark contrast to the normal level of 0.2. Rachna's daughter, Ranjeeta Batra, recorded an even more critical level of 9984.0, painting a grim picture of the extent of the toxic exposure.
Suspicions Arise
Amidst the chaos and the desperate struggle for survival, suspicion fell upon an individual closely associated with the family. Rachna Kapoor pointed fingers at her employee, who had been residing at her Mohali residence for the past four to five years and was also involved with her company, Global Vision Network. According to Kapoor, this employee was the sole occupant of her house before she departed for Germany. Her suspicions were further fueled when, after questioning him about the poisoning, he disappeared from the residence. Simultaneously, his three mobile phones became unreachable, and critical company documents, including letterheads, stamps, and chequebooks, were reported missing. This sudden disappearance and the missing documents significantly deepened her conviction that he was involved in the alleged murder attempt.
The Road to Justice
The path towards accountability has been fraught with challenges. Rachna Kapoor has alleged that despite submitting a written complaint to the Mohali police on January 18, through her brother, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered even by February 4. She has repeatedly met with senior police officials, including SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans, who assigned the probe to SP (rural) Manpreet Singh. However, Kapoor claims that concrete action has been lacking, with her primary demand being the immediate registration of an FIR. The investigation is ongoing, with SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh stating that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness and that all details and medical reports are being verified. An FIR is expected to be registered following a thorough investigation, with assurances that the accused will be arrested.
Lingering Aftermath
The effects of thallium poisoning continue to take a toll on Rachna Kapoor's health. Even now, she struggles to stand on her own, underscoring the severe internal damage caused by the toxin. The antidote for thallium poisoning, a recent development in India, is manufactured by only three companies, and she requires it three times daily. The presence of thallium in the newborn's body, as indicated by the German medical reports, is a chilling testament to the severity of the attack. The incident has prompted demands for a high-level investigation and security for the family, highlighting the gravity of the alleged criminal act and the need for swift and decisive action to ensure justice.
