Indian actress Sridevi's death might have sparked speculation, but after Dubai prosecutor's office said it was closing the case following completion of investigations, the focus shifted back to the funeral scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
The prosecutor's office said forensic report had stated that she had died from "accidential drowning" in her bathtub, after losing consciousness. The case had been closed, the prosecutor's office said.
Her body was handed over to her bereaved family on Tuesday as no foul play was apparently suspected by the investigators.
A tweet from the official feed of the Government of Dubai Media Office read: "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."
After completion of embalming, Sridevi's body was taken to Dubai airport. Her body will reach Mumbai on Tuesday night in a private aircraft, 72 hours after her death.
Mumbai: Sridevi's mortal remains brought to her Lokhandwala residence | RIP Sridevi pic.twitter.com/kn1JT0KkRX
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 27, 2018
According to a statement on behalf of Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor, their daughters Khushi and Janhvi, and the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan (Sridevi's side) families, the body will be kept for three hours at the Celebration Sports Club, Andheri west, near her residence from 9.30 a.m onwards to enable people and her fans pay their last respects.
The final journey of the star, best known for her performances in iconic Bollywood films like "Mr. India", "Nagina", "Sadma", "Chandni" and "Khuda Gawah", will commence at 2 p.m. from the club to the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium & Hindu Cemetery at S.V. Road in Vile Parle west, where it will reach around 3.30 p.m.
Ambulance carrying #Sridevi's mortal remains reaches her Lokhandwala residence.https://t.co/a9VAKkfgXr pic.twitter.com/99EbIkgv5h
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) February 27, 2018
As per present arrangements announced, media will not be permitted either inside the the club or the crematorium.
For three days, the Dubai police authorities completed various legal and medical formalities before the the body was finally handed over to the Kapoor family on Tuesday afternoon.
On Saturday evening, Sridevi, who in Dubai to attend the marriage function of actor Mohit Marwah, drowned in the bathtub of room number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel here.
The Dubai Police had also recorded the statement of Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor, a film producer. According to Gulf News, he was called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. The police took his statement after which he was allowed to return to his hotel.
The overall investigation into her death began early on Sunday morning.
The actress' body was at the General Department of Forensic Evidence, here, since 2.30 a.m (Tuesday).
It was also reported by Khaleej Times that the laboratory results revealed she had consumed alcohol and was in an inebriated state when she slipped and fell into the bathtub that was filled with water.
#Sridevi's Body Has Been Brought To Her #Lokhandwala Residence, Green Acres. Funeral To Happen Tomorrow 3.30 pm At Vile Parle. 🙏#Sridevi #LetHerRestInPeace pic.twitter.com/bqFaUgSms3
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 27, 2018
The police said that there was no clear criminal motive with regard to her death, neither did she suffer a cardiac arrest like how it was reported earlier.
A day after Sridevi died, celebrities like Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, visited the late actress' brother-in-law and actor-producer Anil Kapoor's residence in Mumbai to offer condolences to the grieving family.
Sridevi, who made a comeback to Bollywood in 2012 with "English Vinglish" after a break of 15 years, was last seen on the big screen in "Mom" in 2017.
Sridevi back in country, Mumbai holds 'a wake' for her silently #ReportersDiary
— India Today (@IndiaToday) February 27, 2018
Report By @PadmajaJoshi pic.twitter.com/jVbPfoTVid
SRIDEVI’S FUNERAL TOMORROW AT SEVA SAMAJ CREMATORIUM IN VILE PARLE, MUMBAI, SAYS FAMILY
Sridevi’s funeral will take place tomorrow late afternoon here, the family said in a statement. In a detailed announcement, the family said her body will be kept at Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala for people to pay their last respects before it is taken for cremation.
“On behalf of Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor, the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families, a sincere thanks to the media for your continued sensitivity and support during this emotional moment,” the statement read.
#FarewellSridevi
— India Today (@IndiaToday) February 27, 2018
Sridevi was a born actor, says co-star Jeetendra. Watch this exclusive interview with @sardesairajdeep on #NewsToday. pic.twitter.com/4cSdbTdvvs
It said that well-wishers can pay their condolences from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Celebration Sports Club, Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West. The family said media can also pay their respects “provided camera, recording devices, etc are left outside the venue”.
“The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery.”
The cremation will take place at around 3.30 p.m.
The 54-year-old actor, known as Indian cinema’s first woman superstar, passed away in her hotel room in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers late on Saturday.
SRIDEVI'S DEATH: DUBAI PROSECUTOR CLOSES CASE, BODY HANDED OVER
Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor drowned in her bathtub after losing consciousness and the case had been closed after investigation, Dubai Prosecutor's office said. The body was handed over to her bereaved family.
No foul play was apparently suspected by the investigators leading to closure of the case
A tweet from the official feed of the Government of Dubai Media Office read: "The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Emirate of Dubai has decided to hand over the body of Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor to her relatives on Tuesday after the investigation of her death and the closure of the incident."
"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," the tweet read.
In another tweet, Dubai Public Prosecutor said that "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."
On Saturday evening, Sridevi drowned in the bathtub of room number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel here.
The Dubai Police had also recorded the statement of Sridevi's producer husband Boney Kapoor.
Sources told Gulf News that the filmmaker was called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. The police took his statement after which he was allowed to return to his hotel.
Actor Arjun Kapoor, step-son of Sridevi, on Tuesday flew to Dubai to "be with his father at the hotel".
