A man accused of double murder in India told police he was inspired by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein when he poisoned his wife and her parents with thallium, a substance used in rodent and insect poisons.
Varun Arora, 37, a businessman from New Delhi, allegedly held a grudge against his in-laws for supporting his wife Divya Sharma’s decision to abort their third child last year.
He claimed the child was the reincarnation of his father.
Authorities said Mr Arora laced a fish curry with thallium in January, causing mother-in-law Anita Devi Sharma, 62, and sister-in-law Priyanka, 27, to become ill.
They were treated in hospital and died a month later.
His wife, 35, is on a ventilator at a city hospital, police said.
His father-in-law, Devendra Mohan Sharma, and a domestic worker recovered after weeks of treatment.
Mr Arora was arrested on Tuesday. Police detained him after the release of the autopsy and blood tests from the victims on March 22.
They confirmed traces of the chemical in the women's bodies.
"He was arrested after he confessed to poisoning the in-laws with thallium," Urvija Goel, a senior Delhi police officer told The National.
Another police officer said Mr Arora was inspired by Saddam and his tactics of using the substance to kill his opponents, mostly Kurds, by slow poisoning.
“He told us he read about it in detail before ordering the tasteless and colourless toxic chemical for $300 from an online pharmacist in December,” the officer said.
Police also found a small bottle of the poison in his home.
Thallium is a bluish-white metal found in the Earth's crust and used mostly in manufacturing electronic devices, switches and in the manufacture of special glass for medical procedures.
The substance was banned in several countries after decades of use as an ingredient in rat poison and other pesticides.
Ms Goel said that Mr Arora threw a dinner at his in-laws’ house in January and cooked the fish but excused himself from the dinner, saying his jaw hurt.
He also spared his twin children, whom he fed milk instead of the cooked fish.
Mr Arora's bitterness was fuelled by the abortion of the couple's third child last year, who he believed was a reincarnation of his father who died few months ago, Ms Goel said.
The officer said complications with Ms Sharma's pregnancy had led to the decision to abort. The accused believed this was done on the advice of her parents and sister, the officer said.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
