Actor-model Shefali Jariwala passed away at the age of 42 at her residence in Mumbai’s Oshiwara on Friday.
She was reportedly rushed to Bellevue Multispecialty Hospital in Andheri by her husband, Parag Tyagi, and three others, where doctors later declared her dead. The cause of her death has not yet been officially confirmed.
Eyewitnesses said Tyagi arrived home around 10:30pm on Friday night. Shortly after, Shefali was hurriedly taken to the hospital. The Mumbai Police was informed around 1am and her body was sent to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Jariwala was best known for her performance in the music video of “Kaanta Laga”, an iconic hit in the early 2000s. The song even earned her the title of ‘Kaanta Laga Girl.’ Later, she participated in the Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 13.
Officials from Mumbai Police said they do not suspect any foul play in the death of the actor-performer and suspect that she may have died due to a cardiac arrest.
According to sources in the police, Jariwala had taken her usual pills on Friday night. In the afternoon, she had a shot of an injection—reportedly an anti-aging drug, which she has been taking since past few years under expert’s guidance. After consuming these, her blood pressure reportedly dropped drastically at night and she began shivering, prompting her family members to rush her to the hospital.
A police team, along with forensic science laboratory experts, visited Jariwala’s residence and collected samples, including her medicines, pills, and the injection.
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It is also claimed that she had been fasting the entire day due to a puja at her home, and that consuming pills on an empty stomach may have worsened her condition. However, police are awaiting the results of scientific tests before reaching any conclusion.
“Prima facie, there is no foul play, and the doctors have reserved their opinion on the cause of death,” said Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 9.
Police have registered an accidental death report and are continuing their investigation. As part of the probe, police have recorded statements from at least eight people, including her husband, domestic help, and the building’s security guard.
The final rites were held at the Oshiwara crematorium in Mumbai on Saturday.