Sridevi’S ‘drowning death’ CASE referred to Public Pro Secution
dubai — Investigations into the death of India’s top actor Sridevi Boney Kapoor in Dubai was on Monday referred to the Public Prosecution.
Despite an initial forensic report, which was released on Monday afternoon, stating the actress died of ‘accidental drowning’ in Dubai, sources at Dubai Police informed
Khaleej Times that the Public Prosecution will conduct further investigations into her death. Earlier on Monday, sources told
Khaleej Times that the laboratory results revealed the mother of two had consumed alcohol and was in an inebriated state on Saturday evening when she drowned in the bathtub that was filled with water. She was staying in room 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
Initial reports on Sunday claimed the actress met her untimely demise following a cardiac arrest and at that time, police stated there was no clear criminal motive with regard to her death.
However, Sridevi’s death certificate, which was issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Preventive Medicine Department on Monday, clearly stated that she died as a result of ‘accidental drowning’, quashing all previous claims, including cardiac arrest.
Following the release of the death certificate, the Dubai Media Office tweeted: “Dubai Police assert that the case file was forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Dubai to take the necessary legal action in accordance with such cases.”
If the prosecution feels that further investigation and another post-mortem is required, they can ask the concerned authorities to stop the repatriation of the deceased. Anuradha Vobbiliselty, advocate and legal consultant at Dr Ibrahim Al Mulla legal consultants
On Saturday at 11.30pm, India’s first female superstar Sridevi Boney Kapoor Ayyappan slipped in the bathroom of apartment number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai and fell into a bathtub full of water.
Her subsequent death on the same night and the ongoing dramatic turn of events, which lasted over 36 hours, has left fans and well-wishers in India and the UAE reeling in shock.
In a striking new turn of events, sources at the Dubai Police informed Khaleej Times that the Public Prosecution will conduct further investigation with regard to circumstances that led to her drowning. The investigation into her death began in the wee hours of Sunday morning, and the late actor’s body has been at the General Department of Forensic Evidence, Dubai, since 2.30am on Sunday.
Meanwhile, sources also informed Khaleej Times that the laboratory results 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 also stated that there was no clear criminal motive with regard to her death, neither did she suffer a cardiac arrest like how it was reported earlier. 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.
Officials also stated that a formal medical committee, under the supervision of senior police officials, is supervising the investigation. The police department is working beyond the working hours. Until the time of print, the body was not released and only social workers are waiting in front of the forensic department.
The media and workers were ordered to leave the premises at 5pm, however, an Indian Consulate representative and a family member who identified himself as Saurabh Malhotra, left the forensic department at noon and started working on the formalities towards repatriation. The exact reason for the delay cannot be ascertained, but as of now, papers are with the public prosecution department.
The Dubai Media Office Twitter account posted: “Dubai police assert that the case file was forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Dubai to take the necessary legal action in accordance with such cases.” At 6pm Monday, the case was still referred to the public prosecution for further investigation.
Also, Consul-General of India Vipul stated that the Indian Consulate in Dubai is continuing to wait and hope that all procedures towards the repatriation of Sridevi’s body would complete as soon as possible. “The matters are currently entirely with the public prosecution at the moment. We are hoping that proceedings would be completed soon,” said Vipul.
The fact that the actor drowned to death has left fans and wellwishers in a state of shock, but it also left several open-ended questions on what exactly caused her death. Though the Dubai Police have not provided all the details of the circumstances that led to her death, Khaleej Times spoke to a forensics expert for an opinion.
Bhoopesh K Sharma, an assistant professor and programme leader for forensic science, Amity University Dubai, said: “Accidental drowning can occur due to different reasons. If a person experiences physiological changes in the body like low blood pressure, intoxication or any sudden medical emergency like stroke, heart attack or seizures, it can result in a person becoming semi-conscious or unconscious.”
He added: “If they are near water, this can quickly lead to an accidental drowning. Additionally, simple fatigue or exhaustion could result in a person falling into a tub, unable to react in time after being submerged in water.”
Commenting on the usual legal procedures, Anuradha Vobbiliselty, an advocate and legal consultant at Dr Ibrahim Al Mulla legal consultants said, “After the completion police investigation, all death cases of expatriates, including natural and unnatural death, are transferred to public prosecution department. If the prosecution feels that further investigation and another post-mortem is required, they can ask the concerned authorities to stop the repatriation of the deceased.”