Indrani Mukerjea Unconscious Since 2 PM, Doctors Say Condition 'Serious'

Mumbai: Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, who is accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, was rushed to Mumbai's JJ Hospital this afternoon from the Byculla women's jail, after she complained of "uneasiness." Doctors said she has been unconscious since 2 pm.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into Ms Mukherjea's sudden illness.

The Dean of JJ Hospital, TP Lahane, said doctors are investigating whether Ms Mukerjea overdosed on a prescription drug. Police sources said Ms Mukerjea was being given two tablets of diazepam, a sedative, every day in prison as prescribed by a doctor, police sources said.

Dr Lahane has described Ms Mukerjea's condition 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 Ms Mukerjea is responding to the treatment.

Her stomach has been washed and the contents have been sent for a forensic test.

Ms 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, step-father 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.

During her lifetime, Ms Bora was presented by her mother as a younger sister.

Mr Khanna, a Kolkata businessman, and Ms Mukerjea's driver were also arrested and are lodged at the Arthur Road Prison.

Ms Mukerjea's husband, Peter Mukerjea, a former CEO of Star India, has been questioned several times by the police in the case.

The murder case was initially handled by the Mumbai Police under the supervision of the then Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, but later transferred to the CBI by the Maharashtra government.

The CBI filed a murder case last month against the three accused.