Oct 03 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)

Indrani `overdoses' on pills in jail, unconscious in hospital

Sumitra Deb Roy & S Ahmed Ali
Mumbai:
TNN


Indrani Mukerjea (43), who is accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, was rushed to JJ hospital from Byculla jail on Friday afternoon in an unconscious condition after she allegedly overdosed on anti-epilepsy and anti-depression pills. Late at night, doctors said she continued to be unconscious and in a serious condition.
Indrani's mother Durga Rani Bora (82) passed away in Guwahati on Tuesday . It is not known whether the news of her demise was communicated to Indrani. Durga Rani was bedridden and ill for the past two years. Indrani's father Upendra Kumar Bora is also ailing.

JJ hospital dean T P Lahane said, “It clinically looks like a case of drug overdose.“

He said the doctors were given prison records that show ed Indrani was taking anti-epilepsy and antidepression drugs since September 11. “There is a possibility that she collected the pills and consumed them all at once. She came to us in an unconscious state. She has also developed respiratory distress,“ said Lahane, adding Indrani has been admitted to the critical care unit of the hospital. Lahane said she was serious but her vital parameters were well maintained. He said the next 24 hours will be crucial. Sources told TOI that Indrani was taking anti-depressant Mirtzapine (7.5mg) and Etizolam (0.5mg), an anti-convulsant, and probably overdosed on them.

Indrani, wife of media baron Peter Mukerjea, was arrested by Khar police on August 25 for her alleged role in the murder of Sheena, her daughter from an earlier marriage, in 2012. Bipin Kumar Singh, IG prisons, said Indrani used to take two pills daily--one in morning and another in the evening--under the supervision of jail staff.

“We have called for Byculla jail officials who used to monitor her medication. We can comment only after hearing them,“ he said. Lahane said Indrani's stomach wash has been col lected and will be sent for forensic analysis to conclusively determine i she consumed the drugs. Chief min ister Devendra Fadnavis has direct ed Singh to conduct an inquiry and ascertain how Indrani got hold of the anti-epilepsy and anti-depression tablets inside jail premises. An independent neurologist, who did not wish to be named, told TOI that overdosing on an older generation of anti-epileptic medicines can become life-threatening if it affects the respiratory system. “It can also cause serious brain injury ,“ the doctor said, adding oral pills are usually not the first choice to treat epilepsy nowadays as there are more effi cient injectables available. The doctor also explained that epilepsy can strike at any age though the probability of being afflicted by it in middle age is low.

Meanwhile, Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangala said she would visit the hospital on Saturday . She was not aware of Indrani's hospital admission or the seriousness of her condition. The jail authorities are not obliged to inform the lawyer in such situations. Mangala said Indrani had not made a written application for any medicines in court or to the jailor. But it is learned that she had wanted eye-drops and multi-vitamin tablets which the jail administration refused to allow from outside.Her lawyers also were not aware if Indrani was suffering from any other ailments.

(Inputs from Swati Deshpande)

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