VAGATOR A critical delay in sending the viscera of Ashutosh Judwat to Goa State Forensic Science Laboratory (GSFSL) in Verna, could very well sabotage the chances of finding out the exact cause of his mysterious and sudden death.
Ashutosh collapsed during a party at Hill Top in Vagator on January 20, 2024 and according to reports with the police manning the casualty of North Goa district Hospital (NGDH)was “declared dead at 8.10 pm after being brought by a private ambulance.”
“We will be sending the viscera of Ashutosh Judwat to Goa State Forensic Science Laboratory (GSFSL) in Verna, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” stated Anjuna Police Inspector (PI) Prashal Desai, to O Heraldo on January 24.
On January 26, when asked if it had been sent, he told O Heraldo, “It has been sent to the office of SP and they will forward it.” The SP North Goa, when contacted said it was sent “yesterday” Jan 25.
The delay of five days could well sabotage the chances of knowing whether the deceased died of an overdose of drugs or not.
“The sealed viscera is given to the police within twenty-four hours after the autopsy and they are supposed to hand it over to GSFCL within twenty-four hours for safekeeping,” advised Dr Silvano Sapeco former Head of the Department of Forensic Department of Goa Medical College (GMC).
“GSFCL then starts an investigation within a week. There can be occasions when the viscera is handed over to the police and it is not stored scientifically or handed over to GSFCL late. Handling of the viscera is as important as when it is given over for examination,” explained Dr Sapeco.
“I do not know if it is a coincidence or not but since we stopped sending viscera for examination out of the state we have not got one report positive for substance of abuse. Before, we used to get positive reports indicating the presence of drugs like LSD, morphine, ecstasy…etc,” stated a medico-legal professional from Goa.
“ From the examinations conducted by us, it has been found that the results show that substance consumed did not have a lethal dose that is enough to kill someone,” stated Dr A Wagmode, head of GSFCL when asked to explain how reports on the presence of substances are negative.
“It could also be that the library that is being used to do the tests does not have molecules of the banned substance. In that case, it will not be possible to detect the substance,” specified Dr Wagmode.
