The final report on the post-mortem examination of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Taniam, whose death sparked outrage in the capital, has established the cause of death to be cerebro-pulmonary oedema, congestion of brain and lungs and its various medical complications arising out of direct, blunt trauma to the face and head.
On Monday, the Delhi Police handed over the post-mortem report to the High Court bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice R S Endlaw. The report ruled out presence of narcotic and psychotropic substances in Nido?s body.
While the preliminary post-mortem report had kept the cause of death pending, the final report referred to histopathology and other tests which found that in this case, the brain weighed 1,580 grams ? ?one and a half time the weight of the average human brain?. The right lung was about 700 grams, the left around 650 grams ? ?twice the normal weight of lungs?.
It is learnt that the preliminary report referred to nine external injuries, including finger injuries caused by glass shrapnel. But these injuries were not found to be significant enough to cause death. This prompted doctors to examine the internal organs.
A doctor familiar with the report said the cut-section of lungs showed pink froth in the tissues. The histopathology of the heart, the doctor said, showed multiple haemorrhagic spots.
Since Nido had taken an injectable tetanus shot, the AIIMS checked with CFSL for possible reactions from the shot and psychotropic, narcotic substances and poison ? all of which could have possibly caused the swelling or oedema of the brain.
The toxicology report, the doctor said, tested negative for all consumable substances and that drew attention to two injury marks on the left cheek and forehead.
Last week, the High Court took suo motu cognizance of Nido?s death and asked police and the government to submit reports on the steps taken to ensure safety of people from northeast states in Delhi. It also pulled up police for the delay in getting the post-mortem report and had sought information on the number of pending cases of alleged racial attacks.
