In a big relief for Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, a Delhicourt on Wednesday discharged him in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.
Special judge Geetanjali Goel said, "the accused isdischarged". The order was pronounced in presence of Tharoor, senioradvocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing on behalf of Tharoor, and additional publicprosecutor Atul Shrivastava.
Tharoor, who attended the court proceedings virtually,thanked the court for discharging him of all offences. He said, "It hadbeen seven and half years and it was a torture. I'm so grateful."
The order in the matter has been deferred several timesearlier. On July 27, the prosecution had submitted that it wanted to bring onrecord and rely upon a recent judgment on the aspect of a "primafacie" case at the time of framing of charges. Goel had directed for thejudgment to be placed on record and its copy to be supplied to Tharoor'scounsel. However, the court clarified, "I will not be entertaining anymore applications".
Earlier on April 29, May 19 and June 16, the order wasdeferred due to the pandemic impacting the judicial work. The orderpronouncement was adjourned again on July 2, after the court received anapplication from the prosecution seeking one week's time to file writtensubmissions.
Pushkar was found dead on the evening of January 17,2014. Initially, Delhi police investigated the same as a murder, with an FIRregistered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), itcharged Tharoor under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (cruelty byhusband).
Shrivastava had argued that before her death, Pushkar hadsustained injuries on her body, and they were reflected in the post mortemreport. He submitted 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room, although itwas not clear as to how many pills she had consumed.