Madhya Pradesh 'Horse Medicine' Poisoning: 3 Dead, Family Conspiracy Uncovered
In a shocking incident that has gripped Madhya Pradesh, a seemingly innocent bag of sweets left near a tea stall in Junnardeo turned out to be a deadly trap, leading to three fatalities and the exposure of a sinister family conspiracy. Police investigations have revealed that the sweets were laced with arsenic from a horse medicine, resulting in a tragic series of events that unfolded in early January.
The Deadly Discovery
On the night of January 8, a green bag containing vegetables, snacks, and a box of sweets was abandoned at the gate of the Public Health Engineering office in Junnardeo, adjacent to a local tea stall. The following morning, Dashru Yaduvanshi, a watchman at the office, discovered the bag and consumed several pieces of the sweets. He soon fell violently ill and was rushed to Chhindwara District Hospital, where he succumbed to his condition on January 9.
Unaware of the danger, Santoshi Kachuria, the wife of the tea stall operator, took the remaining sweets home on January 10. She shared them with her daughters, Khushbu and Pooja, and her father-in-law, Sundarlal. All four individuals were subsequently hospitalized after showing severe symptoms. Tragically, Sundarlal Kachuria passed away on January 13, followed by 22-year-old Khushbu the next day. Santoshi and Pooja managed to survive the ordeal, according to police reports.
Forensic Evidence and Police Action
Police swiftly seized the remaining sweets, container, and green bag on January 10. Samples sent to the Food and Drugs Department returned alarming results on January 19, revealing an arsenic content of 25,648 mg/kg, which is a staggering 23,000 times above the permissible limit of 1.1 mg/kg. Viscera preserved from Sundarlal Kachuria's body also tested positive for arsenic, confirming the cause of death.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Naresh Kumar emphasized that the samples sent to Indore indicated heavy metal contamination at life-threatening levels. The Junnardeo police, in collaboration with the cyber cell, launched a thorough investigation into the matter. Intelligence gathered during the probe highlighted that arsenic is found in 'Somal', a medicine administered in minute doses to horses for winter protection but lethal to humans in larger quantities.
Unraveling the Family Conspiracy
As the investigation progressed, police uncovered a web of familial discord and alleged harassment. Khushbu Kachuria had married Akhilesh, the son of Jhadu Kasar from Dhavrikala village. The couple had a four-month-old daughter, but family members reported that Khushbu faced harassment at her in-laws' home. On December 3, 2025, her mother, Santoshi, brought Khushbu and her infant daughter back to Junnardeo. When Khushbu refused to return to her marital home, her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law began making threatening phone calls to relatives, demanding her return.
Following the deaths, suspicions turned towards Khushbu's in-laws. Police questioned Jhadu Kasar (57), his son Shubham Kasar (24), and daughter Shivani Kasar (22), all residents of Dhavrikala. Initially denying involvement, the trio eventually confessed under sustained interrogation. Investigators determined that the accused believed Khushbu was defaming them among relatives and villagers with allegations of inappropriate conduct and physical abuse, prompting them to plot the elimination of Khushbu and her family.
The Plot and Arrests
On January 5, the three accused allegedly traveled from Dhavrikala to Junnardeo, wearing cloth masks to conceal their identities and surveilling the area around the PHE office where Mukesh Kachuria operated his tea stall. On the night of January 8, they mixed 'Somal' medicine containing arsenic into sweets at their home, placed the poisoned items in a bag with vegetables and snacks to avoid suspicion, and rode a motorcycle to the location. Jhadu and Shubham arrived after midnight and discreetly left the bag at the gate near the tea stall.
On Sunday, police arrested Jhadu Kasar, Shubham Kasar, and Shivani Kasar, charging them with murder, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy under BNS sections 103(1), 109(1), and 61(2). The case has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the devastating consequences of familial disputes and the extreme measures some may resort to in order to protect their reputation.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of vigilance and swift police action in addressing such heinous crimes. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to ensure justice for the victims and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
