Shashi Tharoor says evidence shows Sunanda Pushkar’s death was neither suicide nor homicide
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor claimed before a Delhi court on Tuesday that evidence showed the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar was neither a suicide nor homicide and sought discharge in the case. Tharoor, represented by senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, said not even a single witness has made any allegations of dowry, harassment or cruelty against him.
The submissions were made before Special Judge Geetanjli Goel during arguments on framing of charges in the case.The court put up the matter for further hearing on March 26. Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel, as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.
Pahwa said post mortem and other medical reports have allegedly established that it was neither a suicide nor homicide. He further said the prosecution cannot assume that it was a suicide and have to establish it.
“There is no material for framing of charges against Tharoor,” the senior counsel said.
Pahwa had earlier said there was no evidence against Tharoor to prove the offence punishable under either section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) or 306 (abetment of suicide) of IPC. Pahwa had said her death should be treated as accidental.