Forensic Reports

Salient features of the Forensic Evaluation & Interpretation of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) Reports of Dr. Morris (on the Hair Samples of Srila Prabhupada), alongwith Pharmaco-Pathological and Medico-Legal Assessment Report of August 2024 of Truth Lab Mr. Naveen Khurana submitted a requisition letter dated September 1, 2019, along with the certain documents to Truth Lab for Forensic Evaluation & Interpretation of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) Reports of Dr. Morris on the Hair Samples of Srila Prabhupada, Pharmaco-Pathological and Medico-Legal Assessment Report on the cause and manner of death of Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, who passed away on 14th November, 1977. Dr. Gandhi PC Kaza, Chairman and Founder of Truth Labs, an Independent Forensic Science Laboratory in India constituted an Experts’ Committee for forensic evaluation and interpretation of the results of NAA analysis, and based on the available NAA reports and background information provided, to carry out Pharmaco-Pathological and Medico-Legal assessment on the cause and manner of death of Srila Prabhupada, with the following members: Gandhi PC Kaza, Chairman and Senior Forensic Expert of Truth Labs, Hyderabad for Forensic Evaluation on NAA Reports, D. M. Ravichand, Professor & Consultant of Pharmaco-Pathology of Truth Labs, Hyderabad to examine the Pharmaco-Pathological aspects of the incident, and M. Narayana Reddy, Professor and Medico-Legal Consultant of Truth Labs & Professor of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Hyderabad to analyse the NAA and Pharmaco-Pathological reports along with background documents, to arrive at an opinion about the cause and manner of death of Swami Srila Prabhupada. NAA EVALUATION AND INTERPRETATION REPORT: Based on the details ofchain ofcustody ofsix hair samples (‘QI’, ‘D’, ‘A ‘J’, ‘ND-2’ and ‘Q2’) provided in the requisition letter as ‘Annexure-I’, the followingfacts were drawn: The ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) and otherfollowers of Srila Prabhupada preserved the scalp hair as sacred relics. J. Steven Morris of University of Missouri at Columbia tested six of Srila Prabhupada’s scalp hair samples preserved as sacred relics for NAA for the presence of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb) and merczuy (Hg). These samples were tested at different times in 1999, 2002 and 2005. The hair samples collected, J’ and ‘ND-2’ were from the period before mid-1976, whereas the remainingfour samples ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘QI ‘ and Q2’ were taken between Nov 1976-Sep 1977. The results of NAA performed by Dr. J. Steven Morris at MURR are shown in Table-I below: *NAL: Normal Average Level in ppm as stated by Dr. J, Steven Morris and the requisition authority. S. No. Sample Metallic Poison Tested m No. of times above normal level   Cd Sb H *NAL: 0.13 *NAL: 0.07 *NAL: 0.08 *NAL: 1 1.   2.6 Not tested As : 20 more times 2. D 0.640 19.9 0.661 3.72 D: 284 more Hg:2.72 more Sb: 8 times times times more 3.   0.200 12.4 0.186 5.16 Cd: 177 times more Hg: 4.16 times more 4.   0.082 <2.3 0.080 1.62 Hg: Just above normal level 5. ND-2   0.206 0.013 1.85 Hg: Just above normal level 6.   0.85 14.9 Not tested Cd: 212 times more Table-I: Results 0tNAA. Based on the above table, the following inferences are drawn: The test results indicate that the cadmium levels were abnormally high ranging between 177-284 time. The above results clearly indicate the multiple times cut hair samples marked as ‘A’ and Q2′ contained 177 times and 212 times higher levels of Cadmium, whereas the single cut sample marked as ‘D’ contained the highest quantity of Cadmium. The above variations in the hair samples strongly indicate that the single cut sample containing 284 times more cadmium levels is one of the highest levels of ingestion. The NAA test results show that Srila Prabhupada was primarily poisoned with cadmium. Arsenic, Antimony and Mercury appear to have been used in toxic doses occasionally. Two scalp hair samples ‘J’ and ‘ND-2’ belonged to the period when Srila Prabhupada’s health was near normal indicating the toxic ingestion could have been initiated after mid-1976, whereas the remaining four samples ‘QI’, ‘D, ‘At and ‘Q2’ belonged to the period when his health had rapidly deteriorated in the last stages of his life. PHARMACO-PATHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT: Toxicity of Cadmium: Cadmium is a metabolic poison and when orally ingested, cadmium gets deposited in the kidneys and liver, and a minimal amount is excreted through urine. Cadmium causes renal tubular damage, leading to overall physical deterioration. Cadmium is a naturally occurring toxic heavy metal that interferes with the functioning of some of the basic chemical processes that sustain life. It is present in only trace amounts in the environment. Cadmium is a cumulative poison due to slow excretion from the body. About 10 mg of ingested cadmium causes severe toxic symptoms. Cadmium is carried through the blood and gets deposited in the hair, and the amount of cadmium deposited in the hair depends on the corresponding blood level at the time of deposition which varies with the poison ingestion time. Cadmium poisoning is irreversible. There is no antidote or chelation therapy for cadmium poisoning. Ayurvedic drugs do not contain cadmium. The possibility of cadmium contamination interfering with the presence of cadmium in hair samples is remote as the MSDS data of Wahl Clipper oil which only contains white mineral oil with no chance for the presence of cadmium or any other metallic toxic components. The possibility of cadmium contamination in body massage oils is ruled out as per the data given for organic oil compositions of natural organic medicines extracted from medicinal plants marketed as ayurvedic drugs, only contain organic essential oils with no chance for the presence of cadmium or any other metallic toxic components. Cause of deatb_appears to be intricately linked with Cadmium poisoning: The abnormally high levels of cadmium found in Swami Prabhupada’s hair relic samples to the extent of 284 times beyond normal human threshold limits must have led to endothelium damage that appears to have caused both cardio-toxicity and neurotoxicity, resulting in slow deterioration to death. From a Pharmaco-Pathological point of view, it is further

Those with vested interests in the continued status quo of deviations from and corruption of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and divine intentions for ISKCON, have, since 1997, denied and covered up the massive and convincing evidence that Srila Prabhupada was homicidally poisoned by his caretakers in 1977 and that ISKCON was hijacked by a gurocracy under cover of a guru appointment hoax. These dishonest and ill-motivated persons have tried to discredit the cadmium poisoning evidence with illogical, unscientific insinuations that are intended to create doubts and confusion rather than clarify history or facts. These “poisoning-denier” persons typically argue the following:1. Hair analysis is not a reliable science so Dr. Morris’ MURR hair tests are inconclusive. FACT: Hair analysis is a valid, widely accepted and accurate scientific method.2. The chain of custody of the MURR tested hair samples is questionable. FACT: At every step of the chain of custody of the MURR hair samples, the ISKCON GBC had control and oversight, and the transfer of samples from U. Wisc. To MURR was done directly by Fedex.3. MURR does not know how to do proper NAA hair testing. FACT: MURR is a world-class NAA testing facility that is fully trusted and capable of very accurate NAA tests.4. Cadmium is not an historical nor suitable method of homicidal poisoning. FACT: Cadmium salts are a camouflage poison and have been used often in political assassinations.5. No one around Srila Prabhupada in 1976-77 could possibly be a poisoner. FACT: Srila Prabhupada was homicidally poisoned, regardless by whom, which is a secondary issue.6. Lord Krishna would protect His pure devotee from being poisoned. FACT: Christ was crucified, Prahlad and Mirabai were poisoned, this is a philosophical discussion.7. The poisoning theory is contrived by ritviks, envious and anti-ISKCON persons. FACT: Whoever subscribes to the facts, the facts are still facts.8. When Srila Prabhupada spoke of being poisoned, it was his paranoia and senility. FACT: This is offensive to the pure devotee, and does not change the hair test results.9. Srila Prabhupada was tired of the pain and suffering of his health decline and asked for “medicine to die now.” FACT: This is Tamal’s narrative that has never been explained, it is not on tape, and it is a ludicrous idea to commit suicide with cadmium anyway.10. Abhirama and others were present in 1977 and saw no signs of poisoning. FACT: The poisoning was not witnessed by others, and this does not negate the hair test results.11. ISKCON leaders and even those suspected of the poisoning can be trusted when they supposedly investigated the poison theory and found zero evidence that it was true. FACT: The ISKCON GBC has a history of corruption and cover-ups, including of their child abuse. Research of scientific literatures and hair test studies has led to definition of FIVE levels of cadmium toxicity as related to Srila Prabhupada’s case. ONE: NORMAL UNEXPOSED HAIR CADMIUM LEVELS NORMAL SOCIETAL HAIR CADMIUM LEVELS (UNEXPOSED PERSONS): 0.064 ppmThe normal average levels (NAL) of hair cadmium in human society is about 0.064 ppm, derived from thorough research and the 19 studies below, which ascertain an “average normal” hair cadmium level in unexposed persons to be about 1/16th of one ppm. There are variations due to lifestyle, environment, nearby industries. Normal levels have no adverse effect on human health, regardless of age, short-term, mid-term, or long-term. NORMAL, UNEXPOSED SUBJECT CADMIUM STUDIES:(1) Laurie Miller, Center for Disease Control (CDC), has a thick manual on cadmium poisoning, putting average normal hair cadmium at 0.07 ppm (Sharma, et al, 1982).(2) Analytical Research Laboratories, Phoenix, AZ disclosed that their approx. one million clients’ hair analyses averaged at about 0.06 ppm (0.02-0.10 ppm).                                                                                                                                                                                (3) Dr. J. R. Montonte of Trace Minerals International in Cleveland uses a normal for hair cadmium at 0.10 ppm.                      (4) Dr. Max Sutton, Hill Laboratories, CA uses a reference range for cadmium in hair of 0.0-0.15 ppm (average 0.075 ppm).          (5) A 1994 study by Wolfsperger M, et al of 79 healthy adults in Vienna & Rome found an average of 0.038 ppm cadmium in non-smoker’s hair (about double for smokers).(6) 1999 study, Liu XJ (Japan) compared hair cadmium of 0.109 ppm in residents of a cadmium polluted area in 1979 to 0.055 ppm levels in 1999 after soil cleanup replacement.(7) A study in 1988 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany of school children in different areas found hair cadmium levels ranging 0.0637-0.1161 ppm (average 0.0745 ppm).(8) A 1990 study by Wilhelm M, et al at Germany’s Institute of Toxicology measured normal cadmium hair levels at 0.060–0.085 ppm (average 0.072 ppm).(9) A study in 1991 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany found young children to have an average of 0.09 ppm hair cadmium in their hair.(10) A 2003 study by Benes B, Sladka J, et al in Czech Republic measured cadmium levels in the hair of 3556 children. The medium amount of cadmium was 0.14 ppm.(11) A study in 2003 in Slovenia by Erzen I, et al measured the median cadmium content in the hair of 245 random young men to be only 0.004 ppm.(12) A study in 1994 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany found 0.111 ppm hair cadmium in a control group of children. (13) A Spain 1991 hair cadmium study by Bosque MA, et al of 226 children compared average results from an industrial area (0.327 ppm) with a rural area of 0.002

The GBC appointed Balavanta das in 1997 to investigate the “poison issue,” and he arranged for MURR and Dr. J S Morris to test a sample of Srila Prabhupada’s hair. When it became publicized that the result showed a 20 times normal level of arsenic, the poison suspects organized a book of denials called Not That I Am Poisoned, including claims that hair analysis was quack science and unreliable. Strangely, they still arranged for two more of Srila Prabhupada’s hair samples to be sent to MURR and Dr. Morris for testing. When those test results showed that Srila Prabhupada had lethal levels of cadmium for at least 10 months in 1977, then the GBC criticized MURR’s methodology and the science of hair analysis further. This reveals the GBC to be dishonest, corrupt, and untruthful, even denying recognized science in their desperate avoidance of the issue that will end their deviant regime. Below are a few references to confirm the validity and accuracy of hair analysis in ascertaining poisoning with heavy metals. (1). The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) published an authoritative study in 1979 in which more than 400 reports on hair testing were reviewed. The authors concluded that hair is a “meaningful and representative tissue for biological monitoring of most of the toxic metals.” (2). The Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories states: “There are numerous papers on the accuracy and efficacy of hair testing, particularly for toxic metals such as mercury. For more than 30 years, the significance of measuring element concentrations in scalp hair, blood, and urine has been studied.”  (3). A 1986 study by V Bencko, T Geist, et al called “Biological monitoring of environmental pollution and human exposure to some trace elements” states: “In addition to analyses of plant and animal specimens, the element content of human hair as an indicator of exposures to arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, antimony, manganese, nickel and cobalt has been repeatedly confirmed as reliable, provided the analyses were carried out and evaluated on group diagnostic basis and were done in groups of individuals occupationally not exposed to these metals.”  (4). From Nutri-Test Analytical in Edmonton, we read: “Blood, urine and hair are the most accessible tissues in which to measure elements in our body, and they are sometimes referred to as indicator tissues. Blood and urine concentrations usually reflect recent exposure and correlate best with acute effects. Hair is useful in assessing variations in exposure to metals over the long term. It is a useful tool for… diagnosis of heavy metal exposure…” (5). A 1980 study by JS Lee and KL White called “A review of the health effects of cadmium” found that “hair values correlate well with exposure” to cadmium, whereas blood values did not. (6). A 1979 study published by the EPA by DW Jenkins called “Toxic metals in mammalian hair and nails” found that “hair analysis, when properly performed, is a reliable measure of tissue levels of cadmium.” (7). A 1973 study by RW Thatcher et al called “Effects of low levels of cadmium and lead, etc” found that “hair analysis is superior to blood in reflecting long term cadmium exposure.” (8). WIKIPEDIA: (2015) “Tests on hair and fingernails can measure exposure to high levels of arsenic over the past 6–12 months. These tests can determine if one has been exposed to above-average levels of arsenic… Hair is a potential bio indicator for arsenic exposure due to its ability to store trace elements from blood. Incorporated elements maintain their position during growth of hair.”