Sridevi's state funeral on CM's directive: RTI

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actress Shree Amma Yangar Ayyappan, alias Sridevi, who died in Dubai last month, had been cremated with full state honours in Mumbai on the direction of CM Devendra Fadnavis.

There was widespread speculation during the cremation that since Sridevi was a Padma Shri awardee, she was entitled for full state honours.

But as per the information provided by the state government to RTI Activist Anil Galgali, the decision to confer state honours for the funeral of any person lay within the discretionary powers of the chief minister.

The state government has conferred full state honours for the cremation of 40 persons between 22nd June 2012 to 26th March 2018.

Mr Galgali had sought information under the RTI Act from the protocol department which comes under the general administration department headed by the CM.

The protocol department informed Mr Galgali that granting of full state honours for the cremation of any person was under the powers of the CM.

With regards to the full state honours provided to the late Sridevi, a verbal order for the same was received from the CMO on 25th February and was conveyed to the Mumbai suburban collector and the Mumbai Police Commissioner by a government order dated
26th February to do the needful.