Kochi: The mystery surrounding the death of actor Kalabhavan Mani deepened on Friday with the chemical examination of his viscera samples done at the government forensic laboratory here finding traces of a toxic insecticide that is readily available in the market.
The forensic team of the Kakkanad Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory detected the presence of organophosphate insecticide ‘chlorpyrifos’ along with methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol.
“Chlorpyrifos’ is the toxic ingredient of the insecticide sold under the trade name ‘Dursban’ etc while methyl alcohol is a highly toxic volatile poison,” the report handed over to the Chalakkudy police, which had earlier registered a case of unnatural death, said. The presence of ethyl alcohol points to the fact that the actor had consumed liquor before developing uneasiness.
The finding has led cops to the conclusion that the actor either consumed the toxic insecticide or someone must have diluted it along with the spurious liquor that was already found to have been used in his farm house at Chalakkudy on the day when his condition worsened.
“The insecticide could be known by taste and will cause instant reactions like vomiting. Either the victim used it deliberately or might have consumed any material mixed with the insecticide in an inebriated condition. A small dose is enough to cause harm if the taker’s body is weak,” Mr Muraleedharan Nair, chief chemical examiner, told DC. He ruled out the presence of the toxic material as a result of consuming liquor or any chemical reaction in the body.
Mani, 45, who acted in over 200 films and popularized folk songs, was admitted to a hospital in Kochi in a serious condition on March 4. He died in the hospital on March 6 and the hospital authorities informed the police about the presence of ‘poison’ in his blood. The autopsy report had said the actor was also suffering from severe liver disease.
“Chlorpyrifos is one of a class of insecticides referred to as organophosphates. These chemicals act by interfering with the activities of cholinesterase, an enzyme essential for proper working of the nervous systems of both humans and insects. Poisoning from it usually affects the central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Death may be caused by respiratory failure or cardiac arrest,” Mr Nair said.
Though the chemical test was done in detail and using classic equipment given the seriousness of the case, the blood and urine samples of Mani would be sent for testing again to the National Forensic Laboratory in New Delhi. Sources in the investigation team said, “the samples collected while he was admitted to the Kochi hospital will be used to determine the exact amount of poison and for this we’ll approach the court.”
