Nadiad: A shocking incident in Nadiad has led to the arrest of a school teacher accused of poisoning three people, including a deaf-mute man, with soda laced with sodium nitrate. The victims died after consuming the tainted beverage, prompting a murder investigation by the Nadiad City Police.

The accused, identified as Harikishan Makwana, a teacher at Sanali Primary School in Mahudha taluka, allegedly ordered sodium nitrate online with the intention of using it for self-harm. However, he decided to test the substance by mixing it into a local cumin-flavored soda and offering it to his neighbor, Kanubhai Chauhan, a 54-year-old deaf-mute man who sold items at a stall near the Jawaharnagar Manjipura railway crossing.

According to police investigations, Makwana targeted Chauhan because he knew the man wouldn’t be able to communicate any adverse effects. After consuming the soda, Chauhan shared it with two friends, Ravindra Rathod (50) and Yogesh Kushwaha (40), a pani puri vendor. All three men died shortly after.

The incident, which occurred on February 9th, 2025, at around 7 pm, sent shockwaves through the community. The deaths were initially suspected to be due to contaminated soda, but a forensic report revealed the presence of sodium nitrate, a highly toxic chemical.

Kheda District Superintendent of Police, Rajesh Gadhia, stated that Makwana was under mental stress due to an ongoing case related to a honey trap in Patan. This, combined with his alleged suicidal intentions, led him to order the sodium nitrate online through Amazon.

Makwana’s wife, Rekhaben, is also a teacher at a girls’ school in Nadiad taluka. They have two children. Makwana had been teaching English and Sanskrit at Sanali Primary School since 2019, following a transfer from Kutch Mudra.

The police investigation revealed that Makwana had initially ordered a parcel of 500 grams of sodium nitrate. His wife, suspicious of the contents, disposed of the parcel. However, Makwana had secretly kept a small amount of the chemical hidden.

The accused has been arrested and is currently in police custody. Authorities are seeking further remand to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the exact motive behind the poisoning. The case has raised serious concerns about online purchases of hazardous materials and the potential for misuse.