What began as sudden illness and untimely deaths within a single household slowly revealed a calculated plan, hidden behind the veneer of everyday life. In May 2019, the sudden death of a young father in Patan, Gujarat, seemed at first like a tragic medical collapse. Just weeks later, when his 14-month-old daughter also died unexpectedly, questions began to mount. What initially looked like misfortune slowly unraveled into one of the state’s most chilling family murder cases, one that ended in 2022 with the conviction of a dentist, Kinnari Patel, for killing her own brother and his infant child, and attempting to poison her sister-in-law.
The case files and court proceedings revealed a troubling story of jealousy, resentment, and property disputes. Patel, a practicing dentist, was said to harbor longstanding grievances against her brother Jigarbhai Patel and his wife Bhumiben Patel, who was also a dentist. Investigators found that she resented what she perceived as her brother’s greater success and the attention her father gave to his family. These tensions deepened over inheritance concerns, according to the prosecution.
The judgment delivered by Additional Sessions Judge A. K. Shah detailed how Patel used her medical knowledge to plan and execute the murders. Over several months, she is said to have mixed extracts of datura — a plant known to contain hallucinogenic and toxic alkaloids such as scopolamine and hyoscyamine — into her brother’s drinks. Datura poisoning often produces confusion, seizures, and organ dysfunction, making it difficult to detect in its early stages.
On May 5, 2019, her brother fell critically ill after consuming a drink she had prepared. The prosecution told the court that when he collapsed, Patel forced a cyanide-laced capsule into his mouth, a poison that rapidly halts cellular respiration and can be fatal within minutes. When he attempted to seek help, she allegedly withheld his car keys, leaving him unable to reach medical care. He died the same day.
The scheme did not end there. According to the charges, Patel then turned her attention to her sister-in-law. She offered her a glass of glucose water mixed with datura seeds, which sent the woman to hospital. During her recovery, investigators later found, Patel shifted her focus to the couple’s infant daughter, Mahi Patel.
On May 30, 2019, while the child was asleep, Patel administered cyanide. The infant never woke up. The deaths, occurring in quick succession within the same household, raised alarms and drew the attention of both family members and local police.
What ultimately exposed Patel was not only forensic testing but also her own digital trail. Police recovered evidence from her electronic devices, including searches on poisons, and obtained a video recording in which she appeared to admit to the crimes. Forensic toxicology later confirmed the presence of datura compounds and cyanide.
The case also drew attention because of the accused’s demeanor. Reports noted her lack of outward grief and her continued focus on inheritance matters, which intensified suspicions. Her father eventually filed the complaint that triggered the full investigation.
During the trial, prosecutors argued for the death penalty, calling the murders premeditated and brutal. They emphasized the use of professional knowledge of chemistry and medicine to select lethal toxins. The defense, however, claimed she had been wrongly accused and challenged the admissibility of certain evidence.
In 2022, the Patan court found Patel guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. She was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹50,000, with the court recommending compensation for the surviving victims under Gujarat’s victim-compensation scheme. Judge Shah rejected the plea for capital punishment, ruling that although the case was grave, it did not fall within the “rarest of rare” category that warrants the death penalty.
The case has drawn attention in medical and legal circles for its use of natural and synthetic poisons. Datura poisoning is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic psychiatric or neurological disorders. Cyanide, though less common in domestic crimes, is one of the most lethal poisons known, making detection and forensic confirmation crucial in such investigations.
For forensic medicine, the case highlights the challenges of differentiating poisoning from natural disease and underscores the importance of toxicology in criminal trials. For the legal system, it illustrates how digital evidence, confessions, and scientific analysis converge to establish guilt.
References:
News18. 2022. “Dhatura Extracts, a Cyanide Pill: How Gujarat Dentist Killed Brother, His 14-Month-Old Kid.” News18, April 7, 2022. https://www.news18.com/news/india/dhatura-extracts-a-cyanide-pill-how-gujarat-dentist-killed-brother-his-14-month-old-kid-4945460.html.
Times of India. 2022. “Gujarat Dentist Gets Life in Jail for Killing Her Brother, Niece.” Times of India, April 7, 2022. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-dentist-gets-life-in-jail-for-killing-her-brother-niece/articleshow/90654451.cms.
(Rh/Eth/TL)