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In what is a massive relief for senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has cleared him of all charges in connection with the death of his late wife Sunanda Pushkar.
“The accused (Mr Tharoor) is discharged,” said Special Judge Geetanjli Goel while asking the MP from Thiruvananthapuram to furnish a requisite bond.
“Tharoor, who was also present on virtual conferencing while the order was being pronounced, thanked the Court for discharging him of all offences and said “It had been seven and half years and it was a torture. I’m so grateful.”
Tharoor soon after the court verdict released a statement
“…Significant conclusion to long nightmare which had enveloped me after tragic passing of Sunanda…Fact that justice has been done will allow all of us in the family to mourn Sunanda in peace,” Shashi Tharoor after being discharged by Delhi Court in Sunanda Pushkar death case pic.twitter.com/30SRaM3iiO
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2021
On the last date of hearing, the court had adjourned the order for August 18. Meanwhile, the court had allowed Delhi Police to submit additional documents related to the case. Public Prosecutor Atul Kumar Srivastava had sought to file some judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court along with written submissions with regard to framing of charges in the case.
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel in Delhi in January 2014. Tharoor was a minister in the UPA government at the time, and the couple was staying at the hotel as their official residence was being renovated. Tharoor was charged under sections 498A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code by Delhi Police, but was not arrested in the case. Tharoor was granted bail in the case in July 2018.
Earlier, the pronouncement of the order got deferred in the matter. The court of special judge Geetanjali Goel was initially scheduled to deliver its judgment on July 27, but deferred its order to August 18, while allowing the prosecution to submit certain documents. The documents include various judgements from the Supreme Court and High Courts, along with written submissions.
After the Court order, Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, counsel for Shashi Tharoor said : “It was a long battle of 7 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.
“Even the most essential ingredients of the offenses were not present in this case. All reports of various medical boards including Psychological Autopsy Reports exonerated Dr Shashi Tharoor from charges of homicide or suicide. The chargesheet filed was without any basis.”
