The death case of five members of the same family in Greater Noida, reported on Saturday, has taken a disturbing turn on Sunday, as the police suspect that the head of the family allegedly mixed poison into noodles served for dinner amid a long-standing property dispute, officials said on Sunday. An audio note recovered from the man’s cell phone has added a new dimension to the police probe.

Mahesh (37), his wife Lalita (35), their daughter Mishti (7) and the couple’s two sons, Laddu (11) and Sakshat (3), were discovered dead inside a room at their house in the Nagla Shri Padam village at around 8 am on Saturday.

Couple who died along with their kids after consuming noodles

Initially, hearsays of food poisoning emerged after the family returned from a local fair late on Friday evening and ate noodles for dinner. However, as per preliminary findings, the investigating police personnel are suspecting the noodles had deliberately been poisoned, leading to the death of the entire family.

Audio note recovered points to family dispute

As per police sources, Mahesh allegedly laced the noodles with a poisonous substance. An audio note recovered from his cell phone reportedly contains allegations against his two sisters and a brother-in-law, whom he blamed for the deaths.

The cops have taken both the sisters and the brother-in-law into custody as part of their probe. However, their alleged involvement is yet to be established, sources added.

The sources went on to inform that a property dispute has emerged as a key angle during the inquiry. Neeraj, Mahesh’s sister in-law, told the media that tension had been brewing within the family over the division of ancestral property.

She further alleged that she had been forced to leave the house following her husband’s death. She added that Mahesh had assured her that the family would eventually reunite and begin living together again.

Food Safety Officials point to poisoning angle

Food safety officials, who inspected the house in the aftermath of the incident, have strengthened suspicions that the deaths may have not resulted from ordinary food poisoning. Food Safety Officer OP Singh said his team examined food wrappers and other materials seized from the scene but found no expired food items.

Singh told news agency PTI, “It does not appear to be a case of food poisoning. We suspect it is a case of poisoning involving a toxic substance.”

He added that the cops had received no information suggesting the victims had suffered from vomiting or diarrhoea, symptoms which are usually associated with food poisoning. As per the local residents’ account, one of the children was spotted frothing at his mouth.

Probe still in progress

The audio note’s recovery, the suspected use of poison and the alleged property dispute have become focal to the police probe. Police are persevering in efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ascertain whether anyone else was involved behind the incident.