The sudden death of iconic actor Sridevi on 24 February came as a shock to her fans around the globe. Officials at Dubai’s Rashid Hospital told reporters that the actor had been brought dead from the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, where she was staying.
The Quint tracks updates of the repatriation of her mortal remains from the UAE, where she breathed her last.
Khaleej Times reported at 2:30 pm on 27 February that Dubai Police has handed over the letter for the release of the mortal remains of Sridevi to the Indian Consulate as well as to the family members of the actor. The embalmed body has reached the Dubai airport, from where it will be flown in to Mumbai on a private jet.
Sridevi’s husband Boney Kapoor and his son Arjun Kapoor are reportedly accompanying the body. from Dubai to Mumbai.
Sridevi’s body en route Dubai airport from the embalming unit.
The government of Dubai said the public prosecutor’s office has decided to hand over Sridevi’s body to the family after all investigations and procedures were followed, resulting in the closure of the case.
النيابة العامة في #دبي: قرار الإفراج عن الجثمان جاء بعد اتمام كافة التحقيقات والأمور الإجرائية المتبعة في مثل تلك الحوادث، للوقوف على كافة ملابساتها وضمان تحقيق العدالة في إطار القانون.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 27, 2018
According to an Asianet report on 27 February, a head injury was found on the actor’s body.
Boney Kapoor Records Statement
Dubai police on 26 February recorded the statement of Boney Kapoor, reported PTI. Dubai Police called in Kapoor to Bur Dubai police station for investigation. Police took his statement after which he was allowed to go back to his hotel room, sources told Gulf News.
Later that night, Khaleej Times reported that Boney Kapoor provided his testimony on the morning of 25 February. The daily quoted Dubai Police sources as saying that Kapoor was not called for further interrogation.
Forensic report: Accidental drowning is cause of #Sridevi's death. https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/BY2XjEG1nr
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018
Autopsy Report
The autopsy report records the time of death as 10:01 pm. However, according to a 27 February Firstpost report, the first call to the police was made at 9 pm. There is, therefore, an hour’s gap between the official time of death and the first call made to the police.
“The investigation is still going on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as the forensic report only says that she drowned,” an official told Gulf News, as per a 2 pm update on 26 February. The Dubai Police said initial investigation shows she drowned following loss of consciousness in the bathtub of her hotel room. According to the report, the police found traces of alcohol in the body.
#DubaiPolice has transferred the case to #Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases.
2/2
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) February 26, 2018
Initial Reports of Cardiac Arrest
On 26 February, The Times of India quoted forensic officials from Dubai as saying that the actor died of a heart attack and ruled out suspicion in her death.
As per a 12:15 update from Khaleej Times, Dubai Forensic Department officials suggested that there could be a delay in releasing blood test and autopsy results. At 12:19 pm, Khaleej Times quoted forensic officials saying that a second autopsy will not be conducted on Sridevi’s body.
At 1:17 pm, Khaleej Times reported that a death certificate will soon be issued.
Her Last Moments
While the hotel she was staying in refused to comment on the case, sources in the Indian Consulate told the Khaleej Times that she was brought dead to the hospital.
According to reports, her husband and producer Boney Kapoor reportedly flew down to Dubai to surprise her on the afternoon of 24 February. Khaleej Times quoted a source close to the family as saying that at around 5:30 pm, the two chatted for about 15 minutes, before Sridevi went in to the washroom. The source has been quoted as saying that when Kapoor knocked on the door to check on her, she did not respond. He then forced the bathroom door open and found her lying motionless in the bathtub full of water. He raised alarm after he failed to revive her.
The Procedure to Transport the Remains Out of the UAE
Following is the sequence of events that unfolded after the forensic report was handed over to the Kapoor family on Monday.
The Dubai Police issued a death certificate which stated that the cause of death was ‘accidental drowning’.
The case was handed over to the Dubai Public prosecution, as per procedure.
On Tuesday, Boney Kapoor was questioned by the Dubai Police, and his statement was recorded.
The Dubai Public Prosecution declared the case closed after a comprehensive investigation.
The body was handed over to the Kapoor family, who then proceeded with the embalming process.
The embalmed body was transported to the Dubai Airport to be flown out to Mumbai.
The Indian consulate will cancel the passport.
The immigration department will complete the administrative procedures.
The private plane will transport the body to India by late Tuesday evening.
The Quint
