Indrani lapses into 'deep sleep', next 48 hours critical

Indrani Mukerjea - one of the three prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case - who was admitted to a hospital here in an unconscious state on Friday, has lapsed into "deep sleep" or stupor, though she is responding to treatment, a top hospital official said on Saturday.

Sir J.J. Hospital's dean T.P. Lahane said Indrani is responding to treatment and is now "critical but stable" and is under observation in the criticare centre.

Suspected to have made a suicide attempt, Indrani is under observation for 72 hours and the next 48 hours are critical, he told media persons here on Saturday.

"She is responding to voice commands, asked for water once but remains in a semi-conscious state. She is also on ventilator to help her breathe. We are waiting for the urine report to determine what could be the exact cause of her present condition," said Lahane.

He added that the report of her gastric lavage has come negative since the medicines may get absorbed and the truth would be known from the urine sample reports expected by Sunday.

Indrani was rushed to Sir J.J. Hospital after she complained of uneasiness and breathing issues around 2 p.m. on Friday. Earlier, doctors at the Byculla Jail where she is under judicial custody tried to treat her for over two hours.

Late Friday night, her condition was described serious as a series of medical tests were carried out, said Lahane.

"We think that she (Indrani) consumed some tablets... we are treating her on that basis," he added.

Questioned about any possibility of foul play, Principal Secretary (Home) V.S. Singh said they would enquire into the matter and if anybody is found guilty, they would not be spared.

Officials said Indrani was reportedly prescribed to take two pills for epileptic problems, one in morning and one in evening, under the supervision of the jail authorities.

However, she apparently hoarded the tablets and took them at one go early on Friday leading to her present condition.

Though the motives behind her action is a matter of speculation, Indrani was in stress after her 82-year-old mother, Durga Rani Bora expired on Thursday in Guwahati.

Indrani was arrested on August 25 for her role in the murder of Sheena Bora, her daughter from a previous marriage, in April 2012.

Along with Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai were also nabbed, though the motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained.

The sensational case was initially handled by Mumbai Police under the supervision of then police commissioner Rakesh Maria and later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Maharashtra government after allegations of improper investigations.

The agency took over investigations on September 29 and lodged a separate case against the three accused.

Indrani, Khanna and Rai are in judicial custody since September 7. Their present spell ends on Monday (October 5). - IANS