After seven years of his wife Sunanda Pushkar’s mysterious death, Shashi Tharoor has been cleared of all charges. After numerous adjournments, the court ruled on whether criminal charges should be brought against Shashi Tharoor or not.
-Vaishali Pandey
Shashi Tharoor, MP of the Indian National Congress, was cleared on Wednesday of various charges pertaing to death of his wife, Sunanda Pushkar in 2019. Earlier, Tharoor has been charged with several offences, including abetment of suicide of Pushkar. The Rouse Avenue court of Delhi, issued the discharge order.
According to the Delhi Police, Tharoor was the prime suspect in the case. Former Union Minister was charged under section 498-A (subjecting a woman to cruelty) and section 306 (suicide abetment) of IPC. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel recently reserved the order after prosecution and defence counsel finished their arguments on the drafting of charges.
In 2014, Pushkar Was Found Dead In His Hotel Room
On January 17, 2014, Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in her hotel room where the couple was staying for a while. Their official house was under renovation at the time. Tharoor was a minister in the Congress-led UPA 2 governmetn at that time. On January 1, 2015, an FIR was filed in the case against unidentified people on accusations of murder.
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Shashi Tharoor’s Statement
Tharoor said “It had been seven-and-half-years and it was torture. I’m so grateful”, who was there for the virtual hearing. The court was informed by senior lawyer Vikas Pahwa that the bond will be filed today or tomorrow.
Tharoor’s lawyer Vikas Pahwa Labelled Charges As Absurd And Preposterous
Shashi Tharoor’s lawyer, Vikas Pahwa said to ANI, “I am delighted to hear the pronouncement of discharge for Dr Shashi Tharoor. It was a long battle of seven years. Ultimately justice has prevailed. He had faith in the judicial system right from the beginning. The charges levelled by the police for abetment to suicide and cruelty were absurd and preposterous.”
He added, “even the most essential ingredients of the offences were not present in this case. All the reports of various medical boards including Psychological Autopsy Reports exonerated Dr. Shashi Tharoor from the charges of homicide or suicide. The charge sheet filed was without any basis.”
Pahwa further added, “There was no complaint by anyone for harassment or abetment to suicide by any of the family members or friends of late Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor. I am happy that at last after 7 years Justice has prevailed and he has been honourably discharged from all the charges made by Delhi Police against him.”
Rouse Avenue Court Judge Geetanjali Goel declared that the accused had been released and directed him to file a bond.
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