Tribute to legendary Sridevi
The sudden death of Indian actress Sridevi, 54, in Dubai on Saturday night has sent her legions of fans all over the world, including South Africa, into mourning. From Indian stars and politicians to Pakistani icons, her fans and admirers expressed shock
AS MILLIONS of fans of legendary Indian actress Sridevi bemoans her death, authorities in Dubai announced yesterday that the case had been closed and her remains have been handed over to her family.
No foul play was apparently suspected by the investigators.
Earlier, sources at the Dubai Police reported that the public prosecutions office would conduct investigations into the circumstances that led to the 54-year-old’s “accidental drowning” after losing consciousness in a hotel bathtub.
A tweet from the official feed of the Government of Dubai Media Office read: “The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Emirate of Dubai has decided to hand over the body of Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor to her relatives on Tuesday after the investigation of her death and the closure of the incident.
“The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law.”
The overall investigation into her death began early on Sunday. The Dubai Police had also recorded the statement of Sridevi’s producer husband Boney Kapoor.
Sources told Gulf News that the film-maker was called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. The police took his statement after which he was allowed to return to his hotel.
On Saturday evening, Sridevi drowned in the bathtub of room number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.
According to sources, the laboratory results had revealed she had consumed alcohol and was in an inebriated state when she slipped and fell into the bathtub that was filled with water.
The police said there was no clear criminal motive with regard to her death, neither did she suffer a cardiac arrest as earlier reported.
Her death certificate, issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Preventive Medicine Department, also stated that her death was due to accidental drowning.
A formal medical committee, under the supervision of senior police officials, headed the investigation.
The Consul-General of India stated that the Indian Consulate in Dubai was continuing to wait and hope that all procedures towards the repatriation of Sridevi’s body would be completed as soon as possible.
According to earlier reports, Sridevi had been getting ready for a dinner date with her husband. Kapoor flew to Dubai from Mumbai and went to her room at the hotel at about 5.30pm on Saturday to “surprise” her with the dinner.
He allegedly woke her up and the couple chatted for about 15 minutes before he invited her for dinner.
The Mom star then went to the washroom. After 15 minutes had passed and Sridevi did not come out, Kapoor knocked on the door to check on her.
When he got no response, he forced open the door to find the actress lying motionless in the bathtub full of water, a source said.
“He tried to revive her and when he could not, he called a friend. After that, he informed the police at 9pm.”
The police and paramedics rushed to the site, but she was pronounced dead.
Sridevi, Kapoor and their younger daughter, Khushi, were in Ras Al Khaimah, another part of UAE, last week to celebrate the wedding of her actor-nephew Mohit Marwah.
Kapoor had returned to Mumbai after the wedding, but decided to return to Dubai to “surprise” his wife. – IANS