The Dubai police have handed over letters clearing the release of actor Sridevi’s body on Tuesday, the Indian consulate in Dubai has stated.
Sridevi died of drowning in the bathtub of her hotel room after losing consciousness, the police said.
“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,” tweeted the consulate.
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.
Her family has not commented beyond their initial statement on February 26 to announce the death, and has requested the media not to contact them as they grapple with the tragedy.
