Mortal remains arrive
The mortal remains of Sridevi arrived in Mumbai at around 9.30 p.m on Tuesday. A private Embraer jet, owned by industrialist Anil Ambani, was sent to Dubai where the actor died, to bring back Sridevi's body.
Family members, including her film-maker husband Boney Kapoor and stepson Arjun Kapoor, took the body from the morgue to get it embalmed. The funeral is likely to happen around 3.30 p.m in Mumbai on Wednesday.
After the completion of all local processes, the mortal remains of actor Sridevi are now en route to Mumbai, Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Navdeep Suri, said on Tuesday.
“After completion of all local processes, mortal remains of Sridevi are now on en route to Mumbai. Must acknowledge sterling efforts of CG Vipul and team cgidubai Thanks to example set by Min SushmaSwaraj we quietly do the same for any Indians in distress. We care,” he tweeted.
Earlier, Dubai Public Prosecutor’s Office ended speculation over Sridevi’s death in the city on Saturday last, saying she accidentally drowned following loss of consciousness and her body had been “released” to the family for embalming after a comprehensive probe. The office declared the case closed.
The actor was found dead in her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel.
Family members, including her husband Boney Kapoor and stepson Arjun Kapoor, took the body from the morgue to get it embalmed before heading for the Dubai airport for her final journey home.
The funeral is likely to be held in Mumbai on Wednesday.
A private jet had flown in to Dubai from Mumbai on Sunday last.
‘Comprehensive investigation’
Dubai Media Office, the official Twitter handle of the media office of the government, said in a tweet,“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.”
The Dubai Public Prosecutor’s Office said:
“The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law.
“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 Indian consulate in Dubai stated that the police have handed over letters clearing the release of Sridevi’s body. “Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming,” it tweeted.
Police record Boney Kapoor’s statement
The police on Monday recorded a statement of Sridevi’s husband Boney Kapoor .
Mr. Kapoor reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in the bathtub. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared brought dead.
The police called in Mr. Kapoor to the Bur Dubai police station and after recording the statement, allowed him to go back to his hotel room, sources were quoted as saying by the Gulf News .
The Dubai government said in a tweet that the police had transferred the case to the “Dubai Public Prosecution”, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, uncertainty prevailed over the repatriation of Sridevi’s body as legal formalities were yet to be completed.
Sources said in the morning that the authorities were yet to issue a clearance letter to release her body for embalming and subsequent repatriation. Consul General of India in Dubai, confirmed to the Gulf News shortly after 10.15 a.m. that the mission had not received any update on the same. "We are still waiting for information from the Bur Dubai police station about the clearance. They will inform us when they receive it from the public prosecution."
The Dubai government’s media office said on Twitter: “Dubai police headquarters today stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following loss of consciousness.”
She went to attend a family wedding last week
Sridevi went to Dubai for a family wedding last week and and stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai on Saturday to ''surprise her''.
The news of her death, first reported at around 3 a.m. IST on February 25, sent shock waves across the country.
