DUBAI:
The Dubai Public Prosecutors Office on Tuesday closed the investigation into Bollywood actor Sridevi’s death and cited the forensic report to say she had accidentally drowned following loss of consciousness.
According to local media reports, the family has got custody of the body and taken it for embalming. The Dubai Media Office, the official Twitter handle of the media office of the government, said in a series of tweets that the decision to release the body was taken after thorough investigation.
“Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death,” it said.
“Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed. 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.”
The mortal remains of Bollywood actor Sridevi are expected to reach India on Tuesday, as the family has received her body from the authorities. The process of embalming will begin soon and is expected to take a few hours.
The body was to be repatriated on Monday but there was a delay in submission of post mortem and toxicology reports. Boney Kapoor’s son Arjun Kapoor has joined his father in Dubai and will oversee the return to India. Sridevi’s funeral is expected to take place in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The Dubai government had last night attributed the veteran actress’s untimely death to “accidental drowning” in a hotel bathtub after losing consciousness. Following this, the case was transferred to the “Dubai Public Prosecution” for investigation. The actress was reportedly found unconscious in her hotel bathroom and was rushed to Rashid Hospital, where she was declared dead.
“Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters today stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following the loss of consciousness,” the Dubai government’s media office said on Twitter.
As per standard police investigation procedures, Sridevi’s husband and Bollywood producer-director Boney Kapoor gave his testimony on Sunday morning, after the late actress’ body was discovered in room number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.