No Overdose, No Epilepsy: What is Indrani’s Mystery Illness?

‘No sign of opium poisoning in Indrani’s body’-sources to The Quint. Her lawyers tell Times Now she wasn’t epileptic

Indrani Mukerjea, who allegedly overdosed on anti-depressants in Byculla jail, is still critical at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital. (Photo: Indrani Mukerjea’s Facebook page)

Indrani Mukerjea, who was held for the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, allegedly overdosed on sedatives at 2 pm on Friday. Mumbai’s JJ Hospital authorities confirmed this morning to The Quint that she has now regained consciousness and was taken off the ventilator last night.

Sources told The Quint that

• Medical reports say no opium poisoning was found in Indrani’s body
• Till her breathing returns to normal she will not be declared out of danger
• Urine and blood analysis reports, which will give more clarity on Indrani’s medical condition, are expected by today evening
• Indrani was prescribed mild doses of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs by the doctors in Byculla Jail because of sleep disorder
• As per prescription Indrani was taking Mirtzapine 7.5mg OD & Etizolam 0.5mg HS. The only major side-effect is weight gain
  
  

CBI spokesperson said, “We are ascertaining the facts from the State Authority. CBI will do whatever is required for a fair investigation in the Sheena Bora murder case”.

Did Indrani Have Any History of Epilepsy?

Significantly, Times Now has also quoted Indrani’s legal team saying that “Indrani was not suffering from epilepsy”.

Sources are now also telling The Quint that preliminary tests are suggesting that the presence of “psychiatric drugs” found in Indrani’s body, is also very minimal.

This leads to the question - what caused Indrani to lapse into unconsciousness on Friday afternoon?

On Friday it was reported that Indrani may have consumed an ‘overdose of anti-epileptic tablets’ in Byculla jail. A chemical analysis report of the medication she was taking is awaited from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Kalina.

Indrani’s lawyer visited the JJ Hospital on Saturday but was unable to meet her. She visited the hospital’s Dean instead.

Dr TP Lahane, JJ Hospital’s Dean told The Quint that her vital signs, including respiratory rate and heat rate are normal. She has been taken off the ventilator and is now responding to doctor’s commands. No family member of Indrani has visited her in the hospital yet. Peter and Rahul Mukerjea’s whereabouts are unknown since Friday.

What we Know so far

On September 7, Indrani Mukerjea was sent to judicial custody at the women’s wing in Byculla jail. On Friday, Indrani was rushed to the nearby JJ Hospital for treatment after she fell unconscious. Last night, her condition was described as critical but stable, and that she was breathing unassisted. (Mumbai Mirror)

The Maharashtra government has asked for an inquiry into the matter. The probe will be headed by Bipin Kumar Singh IG (Prisons). Security was beefed up at JJ Hospital. It is unclear how Indrani was able to stockpile sedatives, which were prescribed to her on September 11. According to jail authorities, she consumed two pills a day, one in morning and the other at night, under supervision. (Mumbai Mirror)

Case was Taken Over by CBI

The case was transferred to the CBI last month by the Maharashtra government. Indrani’s move to consume the yet-to-be identified tablets has raised questions on whether it was an attempted suicide, or if “external influences” were involved.

Tablets Smuggled into Jail?

Hospital authorities did not rule out the possibility that the tablets could have been smuggled into Byculla Jail, or mixed with her food. Her plea before a Mumbai court that home cooked food be allowed for her was earlier turned down. (The Quint)

Indrani was treated by the jail’s medical staff for 2 hours between noon and 2 pm before her condition worsened and she had to be shifted to the hospital. (Mumbai Mirror)

Sources at Byculla jail told Mumbai Mirror it is likely Indrani consumed the drugs after being informed of her mother’s death. Durga Rani Bora passed away in Guwahati on Thursday, aged 82. She had told investigators during questioning that she had consumed anti-depressants frequently after her daughter disappeared in 2012.

At 11 pm on Friday Dr TP Lahane told The Quint, “Indrani’s BP was 120/70”, and that “she overdosed on anti-depressants.” The Quint has learnt that Indrani, who was dependent on drugs that controlled epileptic attacks and depression may have accumulated the tablets since she was sent into judicial custody. This gives rise to a separate question – if Indrani was epileptic, why was that fact not cited in her bail plea?

Now the question is, whether this is just a question of incompetence by the authorities or a conspiracy to protect powerful people who may have been involved in the murder of Sheena Bora.

Speculation Abounds on Twitter