Indrani drug overdose: Prisons dept orders detailed inquiry

The prisons department of Maharashtra has ordered a detailed inquiry into the case of possible drug overdose by Indrani Mukerjea, who was arrested in August, 2015 for allegedly killing her daughter Sheena Bora.

"A detailed inquiry into the case relating to Indrani Mukerjea's health has been ordered and the Inspector-General of Prisons has been asked to conduct it," Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, Additional Director General of Prisons, said today.

Mukerjea was hospitalised at around 11:15 pm on Friday after she was brought in a "semi-conscious" state to the JJ Hospital from her prison cell in Byculla Jail in south Mumbai.

Sudhir Nanandkar, dean of JJ Hospital, had said yesterday that a basic level provisional diagnosis had pointed to a case of "drug overdose".

Doctors at the state-run JJ Hospital had also said that the police would have to investigate the circumstances that led to the overdose since Mukerjea was orally administered medicines by prison guards.

"The medicines were not placed in her hand nor is she allowed to store them. It is for the police to investigate how it happened," a JJ Hospital doctor said.

Mukerjea is prime accused in the death of 24-year-old Sheena Bora, who was abducted and killed on April 24, 2012 allegedly over a financial dispute.

Her body was disposed of in a forest in the adjoining Raigad district, according to the police.

Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai were arrested for the crime. Rai later turned an approver (prosecution witness) in the case.