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Indrani Mukerjea critical, CBI investigator suspects foul play

Ashwin Aghor | Updated on: 3 October 2015, 17:23 IST

Indrani Mukerjea, the media executive accused of killing her daughter, is not yet out of danger, doctors treating her at Mumbai's JJ Hospital said Saturday.

Indrani was brought to the hospital Friday after being found unconscious in her cell in Arthur Road Jail, where she has been lodged since 7 September.

The doctors suspect she overdosed on anti-epileptic pills. "We tested her urine and blood samples. The report isn't conclusive, but we are sure that it's not an overdose of opium-based drugs," JJ Hospital Dean Dr TP Lahane said.

"The exact nature of the drug can be ascertained only after the analysis report of gastric lavage, that is the substances present in stomach, is received. It will take three days," he added. "She will be kept under observation for the next three days."

Indrani was arrested in mid-August as the prime suspect in the 2012 murder of her daughter Sheena Bora.

Also read: 'Mother' of all crimes: how Sheena Bora became both Indrani's sister & daughter

Smart, attractive and ambitious: the Indrani that Guwahati & Shillong knew

"She complained of chest pain Friday morning. The jail doctors checked her and started the treatment. But when her condition deteriorated in the afternoon, we decided to shift her to JJ Hospital," said IG, Prisons, Bipin Kumar Singh. "It will be premature to conclude the reason behind the incident."

The police, however, believe Indrani had tried to kill herself. "Prima facie it appears to be an attempted suicide. But we can not be sure about it at this point. The investigation ordered by the home ministry will reveal the facts," said a senior police officer.

A CBI official who is part of the team now probing Sheena's murder, sounded more conspiratorial though.

"The police are exploring the suicide angle, but we are not ready to buy their theory. Logically, there is no way she could have accumulated so many pills," the official said.

"The practice is that all inmates on medication are administered the required dosage in the presence of jail doctors. No inmate can hoodwink the doctors and keep the pills to consume later."

The official added that the CBI was preparing to record Indrani's statement in the next few days.

Inmates get medication in the presence of doctors. No inmate can keep pills for later: jail official

Indrani's family, meanwhile, hasn't visited her yet. "There have been no visitors except government, police and CBI officials," Dr Lahane said. "We are not aware about her family members visiting."

Apparently, her husband, former Star TV CEO Peter Mukerjea, and his son Rahul are currently not at their Worli residence. Catch's efforts to reach Peter proved futile.

First published: 3 October 2015, 16:25 IST