It seems there could be further delay in the return of Sridevi’s mortal remains to Mumbai from Dubai. Indian Embassy was informed by Dubai Police that another “clearance” was awaited before it could finally release the body of the actor.
Embassy and the Consulate maintain that they are working closely with the authorities to expedite the return of Sridevi’s body. Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri said to PTI that they have been informed that the Dubai police can only release it after getting another “clearance”. However, Suri refrained reveal what type of “clearance” was required. “It is their internal process. We do not know.”
He also said that it was difficult to give any timeline as the UAE authorities were doing their process.
The Dubai government’s media office wrote on Twitter, “Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters today stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following a loss of consciousness.”
It also further revealed that the police have shifted the case to the “Dubai Public Prosecution” which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases.
It is not clear what caused Sridevi, 54, to lose consciousness, and whether the initial report of her death due to cardiac arrest still holds.
Sridevi’s death sent shock waves across the country when it was first reported at around 3 am on Sunday in India. Several celebrities who knew her expressed that her death is a great loss to the film industry, for her fans and for the world.