The chilling deaths of three people in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, caused by arsenic-laced pedas left near a roadside tea stall, have been traced to a revenge plot allegedly hatched by members of one victim’s in-laws’ family, police said on Sunday.
Gift box turned deadly
The incident occurred over a fortnight ago when a gift-wrapped box containing pedas was found near a tea stall run by Khushbu’s father. Believing it to be a genuine gift, the family took the sweets home. Khushbu and her grandfather later died after consuming the pedas. A third victim, a security guard at a Public Health Engineering (PHE) office, also lost his life after eating the sweets.
The unexplained deaths had left locals and investigators disturbed, with fears of a serial poisoning.
In-laws arrested for alleged plot
Police have now arrested three people — Khushbu’s father-in-law Jhadu Kasar, brother-in-law Shubham and sister-in-law Shivani — accusing them of placing the poisoned sweets at the tea stall. Officials clarified that Khushbu’s husband was not aware of the alleged plan.
According to police, Khushbu married in 2023 but returned to her parental home on December 3, 2025, following disputes with her in-laws.
‘Humiliated, they sought revenge’
A senior police officer said that after returning home, Khushbu allegedly spoke critically about her in-laws, which they felt caused humiliation within the community.
“Feeling insulted and angry, they allegedly decided to take revenge by poisoning the pedas,” the officer said, adding that arsenic was mixed into the sweets before they were placed at the tea stall.
Investigation continues
Police said the case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway to establish the full sequence of events, including how the poison was procured.
The case has shocked Chhindwara, highlighting how unresolved family conflicts can spiral into deadly violence.