Dubai police closes investigation into Sridevi's death, body handed over to family

Abu Dhabi, February 27: The Dubai police stated that the case of Sridevi is closed and that the body will be embalmed and flown to Mumbai soon. Reportedly, the body has been released from the morgue and has been handed over to the family.

Earlier on Monday, post mortem reports concluded that Sridevi died of accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub after losing consciousness, according to local media reports.

Kapoor, who had reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in the bathtub filled with water, was called by Dubai Police on Monday to Bur Dubai police station for investigation. Police took his statement after which he was allowed to go back to his hotel room, sources were quoted as saying by the Gulf News.

Dubai police stated that veteran actor died of “accidental drowning” in her hotel bath tub. Sharing an official statement though its Twitter handle, the Dubai police on Monday said that the case has been transferred to the “Dubai Public Prosecution” which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases.

“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 Dubai government’s media office said on Twitter.

The Dubai-based Gulf News said in a report that the actor was under the influence of alcohol. She fell into the bathtub and drowned, it added. The daily also attached a copy of the UAE government’s forensic report on its Twitter handle.

The report, citing accidental drowning as the cause of death, has a stamp of the “Ministry of Health UAE” and the director of preventive medicine, Dubai, Dr Sami Wadie. The report mentions the actor’s full name, “Sreedevi Boney Kapoor Ayyappan”, her passport number, date of the incident and cause of death.

“The investigation is still going on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as the forensic report only says that she drowned, Gulf News quoted an official as saying.

The actor and family were in town after attending the wedding of her nephew Mohit Marwah which took place in Ras Al Khaimah. While some of the family members returned from Dubai after the wedding, Sridevi, Boney and Khushi stayed back.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri and Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul, Indian Consulate representatives were coordinating with Dubai Police and other authorities concerned.