A five-year-old child died in Gauripura village of Mysuru district in Karnataka after a small plastic toy ball became lodged in the throat.
The family said the child accidentally swallowed the ball while playing, causing breathing difficulty.
Family members took the child to hospital, but the child could not be saved.
The incident occurred on 1 August.
The ball was described as a toy included inside a chips packet.
The status of any police action remains unclear: one account said a case had been registered at Hunsur Rural police station and was being investigated.
Police, however, said the family had not filed a complaint and that no unnatural-death report or criminal case had been opened.
Police said they were in contact with the family and would consider further legal action if a formal complaint was made.