Dubai: In a shocking new twist to her sudden end, it has been revealed that Indian actress Sridevi died due to 'accidental drowning' in her hotel here before a surprise dinner date with husband and film producer Boney Kapoor. The revelation has led to delay in repatriation of her body.
The delay in the release of the body and the latest report of the accidental drowning have added new layers to the mystery surrounding Sridevi's death at the age of 54.
Sparking a controversy, Taslima Nasreen on Monday tweeted expressing her doubts on the cause of the actor's death. “Healthy adults don't drown in bathtubs accidentally,” she said.
Earlier, Taslima had tweeted, “Sridevi's body was found in a bathtub full of water. Hope it is not homicide or suicide.”
Many slammed Taslima for spreading baseless rumors and for coming up with her own conspiracy theory regarding her death.
There could be a further delay in Sridevi's body being brought back to India, with the Dubai police informing the Indian Embassy that another 'clearance' was awaited before the body could be released.
Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri told PTI that the embassy had been informed that the Dubai police could only release the body after another 'clearance.' He, however, did not say what type of a clearance was awaited.
"It is their internal process. We do not know," he said.
The Dubai government said in a tweet the police had transferred the case 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 Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness," the Dubai government's media office said on Twitter.
The body was likely to be embalmed on Tuesday at noon (Dubai time), Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times reported.
It is not clear what caused the actor to lose consciousness, and whether the initial report of her death due to cardiac arrest still holds. The news of her death, first reported around 3 am IST on Sunday, sent shock waves across the country with those who knew her at a loss to explain how the star, who was present at several wedding functions in Dubai last week, could suddenly breathe her last.
Her family has not commented beyond their initial statement to announce the death, and has requested the media not to contact them as they grapple with the tragedy.
Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai to surprise her, according to Khaleej Times.
He was reportedly in the room when Sridevi went to the bathroom before getting ready for dinner, according to daily. It said Kapoor discovered her unconscious in the bathtub filled with water. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
(With inputs from PTI)
