Mourners gather to say fond farewell to Sridevi
▶ Beloved actress’s funeral will take place today after Dubai Police conclude their investigation
The body of Indian film star Sridevi, who died in Dubai on Saturday, was returned home to Mumbai yesterday accompanied by her family.
Dubai Public Prosecution closed the case after police ruled the cause of the 54-yearold’s death as “accidental drowning”. A forensic report stated Sridevi lost consciousness while in her hotel room bath.
The embalming process was completed in Muhaisnah after authorities approved the release of the body and cleared the handover to her family.
Sridevi’s husband and film producer Boney Kapoor, and her brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor were among those to accompany the body on a private jet to Mumbai, charted by Indian industrialist Anil Ambani.
The funeral will take place this afternoon to allow time for relatives, friends and fans of the actress to mourn her death.
Yesterday, Dubai Public Prosecution announced its “comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death” was complete.
“Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed,” said the Dubai Media Office on Twitter.
“As per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed.”
An absence of foul play led police to conclude their investigations and the prosecution to close the case, experts said.
They said authorities followed procedures that involved exhaustive and conclusive analysis.
“The prosecution’s decision to hand over the body and close the case confirms that there are no suspicions of any criminal act or foul play and the death is entirely a result of natural causes,” said Emirati lawyer Yousef Al Bahar.
“Legal procedures take time but the deceased being a celebrity made the press eager to know what had happened on the spot.”
Police said they recorded statements from Boney Kapoor and the hotel staff on Sunday as part of regular procedure, on the morning after the actress was found dead.
“All parties involved were called into the police station to give statements,” said a Dubai Police official. “This is regular procedure, carried out by police to determine the circumstances related to the death of the actress.”
A police report released on Monday upon completion of the postmortem examination a day earlier showed that traces of alcohol were detected in the body of the actress, who was found in the bathroom of her Emirates Towers hotel room.
Dismissing media speculation about the cause of her death, officials in the UAE said standard protocol was adhered to regarding the investigation.
“Let’s be responsible. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take two to three days to complete processes,” tweeted Navdeep Suri, India’s ambassador to the UAE.
“The media interest in [the] untimely demise of Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help,” the ambassador said.
Sridevi was in the UAE with her family for the wedding celebrations of her nephew in Ras Al Khaimah on February 19 and 20, after which the family checked into the Dubai hotel.
The much-loved Bollywood actress had starred in about 300 Indian films, and tributes recalling her contribution to cinema were posted on social media by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actresses such as Priyanka Chopra and Madhuri Dixit.
Fans gathered outside the airport in Mumbai when news of the family’s return spread.
Others congregated near her house, lighting candles and placing flowers in readiness for the return home.
People can pay their respects from 9.30am to 12.30pm today at the Celebration Sports Club in Andheri, a Mumbai suburb, a family statement said.
Members of the media were also invited to offer condolences, “provided cameras [and] recording devices are left outside the venue”.
Sridevi’s body will be taken from the club to the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium at 2pm. The last rites will begin at 3.30pm at the crematorium and the Hindu Cemetery in Vile Parle, Mumbai.