Sunanda’s death caused by ‘poisoning’, suicide not ruled out: autopsy report

The autopsy, sources said, also found over a dozen injury marks in the upper extremity of her upper body — on one arm, hand, chin, and neck regions — and interpreted them as “scuffle marks”.

Although “nominal traces” of the anti-anxiety drug Alprazolam were found, there were “no findings suggestive of drug overdose”.

The sources did not elaborate on the nature of the poison/s .

“The autopsy has not ruled out suicide. It has only said the cause of death is poisoning,” a source said. The autopsy said Sunanda’s “cardiac death” was “not from any natural causes or pre-existing disease”.

The autopsy report was submitted to SDM Alok Sharma. He will submit a copy to the Delhi Police Tuesday and ask it to probe further.

Police sources said CCTV footage of Leela Palace hotel — where Sunanda was found dead Friday — established she was last seen on January 16 afternoon, speaking on her mobile phone in the lobby.

Investigators claimed they had seized two strips of Alprax tablets from Sunanda’s purse of which a few tablets were left. However, sources said it was not clear if she consumed the rest the same day.