Sridevi autopsy raises more questions

There could be a further delay in the return of Sridevi’s mortal remains with the Dubai police informing the Indian Embassy that another “clearance” was awaited before it could release the body of the actor, who according to the government there, died of accidental drowning in her hotel bath tub after losing consciousness.  

Maintaining that the Embassy and Consulate are working closely with the authorities here to expedite the return of Sridevi’s body, Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri said that they have been informed that the Dubai police can release it only after receiving another “clearance”. 

However, Suri did not say what type of “clearance” was required. “It is their internal process. We do not know.” Asked when Sridevi’s body can be flown out, he said, it was difficult to give any timeline as the UAE authorities were following their process. 

The Dubai government’s media office said on Twitter, “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 bath tub following loss of consciousness.” 

The actor’s mortal remains were kept at the forensic department at the police headquarters. Khaleej Times reported that the embalming likely to take place 

at Sonapur by noon on Tuesday. It is not clear what caused Sridevi, 54, to lose consciousness, and whether the initial report of her death due to cardiac arrest still holds. According to some media reports, the Dubai police, have a first rate investigative record and have resolved crimes often in hours of their occurring.

The police will investigate the circumstances that led to Sridevi’s death by drowning. And if they believe that there are persons of interest who can shed light on the issue — whether it concerns the alcohol content in her blood or the reason why the bath tub was reportedly full or even why a friend was called by husband Boney Kapoor rather than the hotel doctor and support staff — they will detain and question anyone they feel can shed light on how she drowned. 

Her death, which was first reported at around 3 am on Sunday in India, sent shock waves across the country.