Sahil Zaroo

NEW DELHI: The mystery surrounding the toxic screen test done on Rahul Mahajan, son of the slain Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Pramod Mahajan, deepened on Sunday. A private pathology laboratory here reported traces of cocaine and a cocktail of restricted drugs, non-narcotic sedatives and alcohol in his urine and blood samples, a day after authorities in the Apollo Hospital here claimed he tested negative for any narcotic drug.

Rahul Mahajan was brought to hospital in an unconscious state early on Friday morning from his father's 7 Safdarjung Road residence. Bibek Moitra, personal secretary to Pramod Mahajan, was declared dead on arrival.

As a matter of protocol, the hospital authorities sent Rahul Mahajan's blood and urine samples to Dr. Lal's Path Labs for quantitative analysis on Friday. While the reports shared by the hospital authorities indicated "negative toxic screen," the tests carried out at Dr. Lal Path Labs revealed the presence of 3.9 milligrams of cocaine per litre of urine. Besides, traces of cholinesterase, opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazipine and cannabinoids were found. The presence of alcohol within permissible limits was also detected in the blood sample.

Apollo Hospital authorities maintained that they stood by their test report. They asserted that what the hospital laboratory carried out was a "qualitative" test that proved negative, as the levels of drugs found in the body were negligible. "We, however, have to understand and read through all test reports to know what really triggered the condition in the patient,'' said Medical Director Anupam Sibal on Sunday.

Sahil "bought the stuff"

In a related development, Sahil Zaroo, who was arrested in Srinagar on Saturday, was flown to the capital on transit remand. He was produced in a Delhi court that remanded him to eight days' police custody.

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Manish Aggarwal, Sahil admitted that he had bought the "stuff" that was consumed at 7 Safdarjung Road on Thursday night. "We will interrogate him further," he said.

The police have rounded up three Nigerian nationals, including Abdullah who allegedly sold the "stuff" to Sahil at Vasant Vihar in Southwest Delhi. Abdullah, who lives in Vasanth Kunj, is alleged to have confessed that he sold the drug to Sahil.

Mr. Aggarwal said that after a section of the media reported that Rahul Mahajan's condition had improved considerably, a police team went to question him. But around 11.25 a.m. the hospital authorities issued a letter stating that he was still medically unfit to make a statement. The police are expected to question him on Monday.

A medical bulletin said Rahul Mahajan had made further progress in his overall clinical condition and was on non-invasive ventilator intermittently. "All his vital parameters are stable. He continues to be under close observation in the Intensive Care Unit. He is tolerating oral diet and fluids," said Dr. Sibal.

Earlier, the police reiterated that the post-mortem examination report on Moitra did not give any conclusive cause for his death and they were awaiting the viscera report. Moitra's body was flown to Mumbai on Saturday and cremated at Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

The police have not yet decided what action to take against the three young men, Rahul, Karan and Tishay, who visited Mr. Mahajan's residence on the fateful night.

The police have added two new Sections, 21 and 29, of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in the First Information Report. These sections relate to facilitating and abetting in crime.

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