Man held for giving water laced with acid to his boss in Mumbai

Upset over constant criticism of his working abilities and conduct, a scientific assistant allegedly mixed acid in the drinking water of his superior in at attempt to teach him a lesson. The assistant was arrested by the MIDC police recently.

Senior inspector SL Hujband said that Vinod Kumar was arrested from Chennai on February 10 and brought to Mumbai. He is currently in judicial custody till February 28.

Kumar has been booked under section 328 of Indian Penal Code meant for
whoever administers any person with any poison or any stupefying, intoxicating or unwholesome drug, or with an intention to cause hurt.

Accused can be punished with 10 years’ imprisonment and shall also be liable to fine.

The police added that Kumar was wanted since 2008 after he allegedly mixed mercuric chloride in a glass of water meant for senior scientist Ashok Bansode, whose designation is marked as ‘D’ of National Test House, Mumbai. The alleged incident occurred on September 17, 2008, the police said.

“On that day, when I drank the water, I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my throat. I checked with my colleagues if they had a similar complaint but they declined. I even checked with the staff if the water purifier was cleaned with some acid that day but nothing as such had been done,” said Bansode.

However, Kumar’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi claims his client has been framed. “There was no ‘intent to hurt’ in this case and he is clearly being framed due to inter-departmental rivalry.”

The forensic report issued on April 8, 2009, read, “Mercuric chloride that is in hydrochloride acid medium is predicted in Exhibit-1 (a one litre bottle), which contains 0.392g of mercury.” The assistant chemical analyser added in the report that mercury is highly toxic in nature, the police said.

Kumar had been evading arrest by challenging all the reports that turned against him before he was finally transferred to Chennai in April 2009. Kumar will now be produced before the court on February 28 for further remand.