Teen Kills Self By Ordering Poison Via Amazon, Father Files Complaint

A father has filed a complaint against e-commerce giant Amazon for allegedly delivering a poisonous substance to his 18-year-old son, who consumed it to end his life. He alleged that the portal made Celphos, a lethal poison used as a fumigant, easily available.

Ranjeet Verma from the Indian city of Indore approached the district authorities against Amazon during a public hearing held Tuesday, reported News 18.

Verma submitted before the authorities the delivery package and related documents of the online order placed by his son.

According to Verma, his son Adithya, a fruit seller, ordered four packets of Celphos via Amazon. He placed the order on July 22. Though it is unclear when the product was delivered, Adithya is said to have consumed Celphos on July 29. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he died the next day.

Verma and his family found a remaining packet of poison and got to know about the order only after Adithya's death, the report added.

He alleged that it was not easy to source Celphos over the counter or via any drug store in the city of Indore. However, it was easily available to his son via Amazon, he alleged.

Celphos, with a 56 percent concentration of Aluminium Phosphide content, is used by farmers in India for pest control. However, its sale and usage are restricted by authorities due to several cases of suicide by Celphos consumption.

The father also requested the authorities to take action to shut down the website and application. "We want strict legal action against this company so that online supply of poison is stopped and no other father has to lose his son," he said.

The district authorities confirmed that they received a formal complaint from Ranjeet Verma against the delivery giant. Indore Collector Manish Singh told News 18 that an investigation will be opened into the complaint.

Recently, police in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh busted an online marijuana sale racket and recovered around 100 pounds of marijuana (ganja) from an Amazon delivery partner. In response, an Amazon spokesperson's statement said the reports that Amazon executives have been arrested or charged as part of this case are incorrect.

"We are not aware of any Amazon executives being named in the investigation. On the contrary, Amazon continues to assist with the investigation. There are media reports of third-party delivery contractors being investigated, but we cannot confirm these reports," the statement said.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.