Mumbai, Oct 2: Former media magnate Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, Friday consumed pills in jail after which she was rushed to hospital where doctors said her condition is “serious”, leading to speculation that she might have attempted suicide. Doctors said she has been unconscious since 2 pm.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into Mukerjea’s sudden illness.
JJ Hospital dean TP Lahane said doctors are probing whether Mukerjea overdosed on anti-epilepsy pills that she was prescribed. He described her state as “serious but stable.”
“We think she has consumed some tablets, we are treating her on that basis,” Dr Lahane said, adding it would take about 24 hours to assess how Mukerjea is responding to treatment.
Her stomach has been washed and the contents sent for forensic tests.
Sources said Mukerjea was being given the prescribed two tablets a day in prison.
Mukerjea (43), was arrested in August and has been lodged at the Byculla jail since September 7 when she was remanded in judicial custody.
Sheena Bora (24) was killed in 2012. The Mumbai police has accused her mother Indrani, stepfather Sanjeev Khanna, and a driver of hatching a criminal conspiracy to murder Sheena, abducting and murdering her and disposing of her half-burnt body in a forest in Raigad, about 80 km from Mumbai.
Khanna, a Kolkata businessman, and Mukerjea’s driver were also arrested and are lodged at Arthur Road Prison.
The murder case was initially handled by Mumbai police, but was later transferred to the CBI by the Maharashtra government. agencies
