Sridevi's Funeral Updates LIVE: Actor Drowned in Hotel Bathtub, Forensic Report Rules Out Foul Play

Following the transfer of Sridevi's case to Dubai's Public Prosecutor's Office by Dubai Police, authorities have reportedly started questioning members of Sridevi's family. Sources told CNN-News18 that while the police still states there is no evidence of foul play, they also say that the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the late actor's body has been sent for embalming, but hasn't been released yet as documents required to begin the repatriation process have not yet been issued.

Necessary reports awaited to start process of repatriating Sridevi's mortal remains: Officials

Indian officials and family members of Bollywoood star Sridevi are still waiting the necessary certificates from the Dubai authorities to start the process of repatriating her mortal remains, at least two officials today confirmed. Sridevi, 54, died late Saturday night reportedly due to a cardiac arrest in Dubai, where she had gone to attend the wedding of her nephew Mohit Marwah.
"We need forensic certificate, death certificate and embalming certificate before the process of embalming the body begins. Unless these processes are completed, we will not be in a position to give a firm time for the repatriation of the body," an official from the Consulate General of India told PTI here.
According to him, things cannot proceed further until the Dubai authorities hand over all the reports. "We have been transparent since yesterday that we are waiting for the aforesaid clearances and things cannot proceed further until that happens," the official said.
Meanwhile, the Gulf News quoted sources as saying that the Dubai Police have released the forensic report on Sridevi's death to her family and the Indian Consulate representative. Uncertainty over when the body would arrive in Mumbai and the many questions surrounding her sudden death in Dubai intensified as the day progressed.  

Following the release of Sridevi's autopsy reports, which states her death is due to accidental drowning, Dubai Police has transferred the case to Dubai Public Prosecution's office, which will carry out the regular legal procedures followed in such cases.  

The police are still trying to piece together the sequence of events and find out who was with Sridevi when the incident happened, according to Gulf News. “The investigation is still going on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as the forensic report only says that she drowned,” an official involved with the investigation told the paper.

#RIPSridevi “Investigation is on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as forensic report only says that #Sridevi drowned,” an official told Gulf News. Police trying to piece together the sequence of events & find out who was with her when the incident happened pic.twitter.com/UzAjP27S1h

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

The Khaleej Times is reporting that the cause of Sridevi’s death is accidental drowning and she did not suffer a cardiac arrest. Some reports suggest that she was under the influence of alcohol and lost her balance and fell into the tub. Sridevi was found dead in a bathtub full of water by her husband Boney Kapoor. Her body will soon be moved to the Al Muhaisana embalming unit and will be repatriated to Mumbai at the earliest. The police will release the official forensic report and details to the family in the next few moments.

With all the post-mortem and medical tests concluded, Dubai authorities have finally released the body of Sridevi to her family

#Sridevi update: Body released for embalming. https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/npaFsPk5uu

— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018

Sridevi’s family members are hopeful that her body will be ready for repatriation within the next one hour.  Social workers are working with the family to complete the procedure of repatriation - the cancellation of passport, issuance of death certificate among others. Once all the documents are collected, the family members will be handed over the body.

There were traces of alcohol found in Sridevi's blood: Autopsy report

Breaking: Traces of alcohol found in #Sridevi's body. https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/5HaH2KQ50g

— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018

See a copy of Sridevi's forensic report, just posted by Dubai's Gulf News

Forensic report: Accidental drowning is cause of #Sridevi's death. https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/BY2XjEG1nr

— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018

Sridevi Died of an accidental drowning, according to the Dubai police: Gulf News

#BREAKING -- Sridevi died from accidental drowning in the bathtub: Gulf News #RIPSridevi

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/d0iANn2HBp pic.twitter.com/minvS6aF9N

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

Sridevi was 54 when she passed away in Dubai late on Saturday night.

Even as celebrity friends of the family continue to troop in and out of the Kapoor family home to condole with the family and pay their respects to the memory of Sridevi, they remain in shock and disbelief. CNN-News18 spoke to legendary choreographer Saroj Khan about her long association with India's first female superstar.

#RIPSridevi -- No words to describe the shock, #Sridevi was like a child to me: Saroj Khan to CNN-News18's @shilparathnam

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/nIQaqOZH4u pic.twitter.com/CuI0FNEHrZ

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

As reported to CNN-News18, authorities have ruled out foul play in the sudden death of Sridevi and are expected to issue all necessary clearances soon. The actor's mortal remains are expected to be flown back to Mumbai later today.

#BREAKING -- Dubai police to release #Sridevi's body soon. Indian officials at Bur Dubai police office, no criminality in the death: Dubai Police Sources #RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/pB4JvEtfjQ

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

As reported by Khaleej Times, an official from the Indian Consulate, accompanied by a family member, has been called inside the morgue. Matters should be concluded by 2pm local Dubai time, an Indian Consulate official has confirmed to Khaleej Times. The consulate official has left the premises along with the relative, Saurabh Malhotra. They have been asked to return by 2pm. Death certificate for late actress Sridevi may be issued soon.

The latest reports suggest that Sridevi's body will be released in the next two hours, with Dubai police expected to issue the death certificate soon.

#Sridevi Live Updates: Forensic report will be issued after two hours - https://t.co/STLXW5y2VI pic.twitter.com/IqUmnoSNW3

— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 26, 2018

The officials at the Forensic Medicine Department suggest that there could be a delay in releasing blood test and autopsy results of Sridevi, according to Khaleej Times. Apparently, some new developments in the case have resulted in the delay. The officials are suggesting that it could take a few more or several hours to release the body from forensics.

"We have lost the biggest human being and the biggest star of our country. I have worked with her in 16 films and her memories will forever remain alive in my heart and that's one of the reasons why it's very difficult for me to talk about her in past tense. I still can't believe she is no more," said Anupam Kher as he paid his last respects to veteran actor Sridevi.

#Sridevi's memory will always remain with me. We've lost one of the biggest stars of the country. Still can't believe she is no more: Anupam Kher. #RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/1LJRw3OyYI

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

Filmmaker Karan Johar, designer Manish Malhotra and Farhan Akhtar along with his mother Honey Irani arrive at Anil Kapoor's residence to offer their prayers and condolences to the family.

Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra arrive at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai. #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/LAI6gaaOjY

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018

Sridevi was last seen in director Ravi Udyawar’s "Mom", which featured her as Devki Sabarwal, who struggles hard to pacify her relationship with elder daughter Arya (Sajal Ali) until an untoward incident hits the family. The film received critical acclaim at the box office. However, Aanand L Rai’s upcoming film "Zero" would be Sridevi’s final movie. The actor will be seen in a special appearance for which she had already shot back in October in 2017. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, the film will celebrate the “incompleteness in people” and will see SRK in an unusual avatar and that of a dwarf in the movie. Sridevi would reportedly play herself in the film and share screen space with Alia Bhatt and Karisma Kapoor. The scene is said to be a party sequence.

Sum nites the stars with u shine brighter than the ones in the sky. Thx ladies for ur graciousness beauty & love.

A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Oct 1, 2017 at 6:34pm PDT

Dubai Police have confirmed that there will be further delays in repatriating the body of Indian actress Sridevi, who died in Dubai on Saturday, reports Gulf News. The publication states that the officials at the Forensic Medicine Department said that the final post-mortem reports of their investigation were not ready.

The forensics department is yet to submit blood test results to Dubai Police for the release of Sridevi's body, reports Khaleej Times. The results are expected in the next couple of hours.

#LiveUpdates on Sridevi's death: The forensics department has yet to submit blood test results to #Dubai police for the release of actor #Sridevi’s body. It is expected in the next couple of hours. - https://t.co/lZnQAy6tUA pic.twitter.com/ARLz6gAOVu

— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 26, 2018

Filmmaker Karan Johar paid an emotional tribute to the veteran actor by sharing a heartfelt message alongside a picture of her from her comeback movie "English Vinglish" on his Instagram. He wrote: "I danced to hawa Hawaii when I was in school.....I have seen every film of hers multiple times....I met her with shaking hands and feet on the sets of my fathers film GUMRAH....and felt I had arrived when she called me for the first time .....every time I met her I had a star struck moment and a fan boy vibe....I don’t think I can believe it...perhaps I don’t think I want to believe that she is no more... she is a huge reason I love the movies....I feel like Indian cinema just lost its smile....the heavens are fortunate they just inherited a gift of life.....heartbroken..." (sic).

I danced to hawa Hawaii when I was in school.....I have seen every film of hers multiple times....I met her with shaking hands and feet on the sets of my fathers film GUMRAH....and felt I had arrived when she called me for the first time .....every time I met her I had a star struck moment and a fan boy vibe....I don’t think I can believe it...perhaps I don’t think I want to believe that she is no more... she is a huge reason I love the movies....I feel like Indian cinema just lost its smile....the heavens are fortunate they just inherited a gift of life.....heartbroken.....

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) on Feb 25, 2018 at 1:33am PST

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has cancelled her Holi party as a mark of respect to the sudden and untimely demise of the legendary actor Sridevi. Azmi took to Twitter on Monday morning to announce the same. Azmi also visited Anil Kapoor's residence to offer her prayers and condolences to the family.

Our Holi party at Janki Kurir stands cancelled on 2nd March in the wake of Sridevis passing away.

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) February 26, 2018

Aged 54, Sridevi turned heads every time she made an appearance in public and set hearts a-flutter with her sparkling smile. She was not just a brilliant actress with an extraordinary body of work including films like "Lamhe", "Chalbaaz", "Mr. India", "Sadma" and "Chandni" among others as her legacy, but was also a fashion icon who many designers felt honoured and humbled to have worked with. And at this hour of grief, as the entire nation mourns her death, the film and fashion fraternity too feel a void that can never be filled.

Repatriation of Sridevi's mortal remains not delayed. Embassy waiting for both medical and police reports, sources told CNN-News18.

#RIPSridevi -- Repatriation of #Sridevi's mortal remains not delayed. Embassy waiting for both medical and police reports: sources to CNN-News18 | @SiddiquiMaha with more details pic.twitter.com/daSzTdFvS6

— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 26, 2018

Bollywood stars are as vulnerable to life’s tragedies as commoners. And this includes the chance of dying too soon. The unexpected loss of actress Sridevi isn’t just shocking for her family, friends and fans, but heartbreaking too. As she bids adieu to the world, here are the last pictures of Sridevi with her family from the wedding.

Female driven films may have become commonplace now with actresses like Vidya Balan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and others shouldering the story. But it was Sridevi, who with her acting prowess, managed to be part of several norm-defying films in 80s and 90s. Not only did she represent women as both independent and confident, but also took up female driven films with real lead characters. She represented women – as a friend, a mother, a wife, a beloved - majority of us will admire for years.

Bollywood celebrities Rekha, Karan Johar, Shabana Azmi, Rani Mukerji, Manish Malhotra and Swara Bhasker among others visited Anil Kapoor's residence to offer their condolences to the family and meet Sridevi's daughters Jhanvi and Khushi. Sridevi, who started her career down South as a child artiste, became a prominent Bollywood star in the early 1980s with box-office hits such as "Mawaali", "Tohfa", "Mr India" and "Chandni" among others to her credit.

As per the latest report by Gulf-based Khaleej Times, Sridevi’s body is yet to be released by Dubai Police’s forensic department. The report further states that embalming procedure and other procedures are likely to be completed in 3-4 hours. The mortal remains of the veteran actor may be repatriated by 5:30pm IST. The publication had earlier reported that the veteran actor's autopsy had been completed and the family was awaiting laboratory reports conducted by the General Department of Forensic Evidence.

Ever since the news of her death broke, Sridevi’s Lokhandwala apartment, where she lived with her husband Boney Kapoor, and daughters Jhanvi and Khushi, witnessed a steady stream of ardent fans assembling outside her house to pay their respects. Two police vans have been stationed and the security, too, has been beefed up to avoid any commotion outside her residence. The actor's mortal remains will arrive in India from Dubai in a few hours from now and the cremation will be held later in the day in Mumbai. 

Mumbai: Latest visuals from outside the residence of #Sridevi; her mortal remains will be brought to India from Dubai today. pic.twitter.com/pAz2Xav4lG

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018