Delhi Police is also under fire.
By Dileep Thekkethil
BANGALORE: The death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, is becoming ever more mysterious, following a recent autopsy report that stated that she died due to poisoning. Pushkar was found dead in a Delhi hotel room on January 14.
The report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, released on September 27, said “poisoning” was the cause of Pushkar’s death. The three-member team of doctors that conducted the autopsy raised questions about the bruise found in the body of Pushker, saying that it could be the outcome of a scuffle. The Delhi Police have failed to provide “circumstantial evidences (sic) and statements” about these injuries, the report said.
In response, Delhi Police issued a curt statement saying that they “still do not have a conclusive forensic report” and the “inquest is pending”.
But the report points finger at the police stating that despite sending letters to the investigating team, it has failed to provide the forensic report. It says, “duration of injuries has been opined already. However, the reason of these physical injuries, circumstantial evidences and statements have not been submitted by IO (Investigating Officer) despite a letter dated 4th April 2014 and the same is required for any further possible medical comments.”
The report also says the investigating officers have to provide more medically relevant facts. Even the photographs of the scene of death and the details of the prescription advising Sunanda to take Alprax tablets have not been provided, it says, adding, “There were medicines recovered from scene of incidence i.e. hotel room in which the deceased was found dead. Who prescribed these drugs, from where these drugs were procured and for whom these drugs were prescribed?”
Alprax, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, was found in the hotel room where Pushkar was found dead.
Related Story: Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Shashi Tharoor, found dead
“IO [investigating officer] is advised to enquire whether any close relative of the deceased has been prescribed Alprax,” the report states.
After the new medical report surfaced many critics of Tharoor have blamed him for Pushkar’s death. Among them is BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. He said Tharoor had “roughed up” Sunanda before her death because she threatened to publicize some of the scandals that she witnessed.
On the day before her death Tharoor roughed up Sunanda for threatening to expose the highly placed in all the scandals that she witnessed.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) October 11, 2014
“This is something that has vindicated my position and I have been saying this from day one,” Swami was quoted by ANI saying. “There are many indications that now prove that Delhi police did not provide the documents to the autopsy committee which proves that they are under some pressure.”
He added that “the autopsy also establishes that there was a deep thump mark on her body, like somebody tried to open her mouth. Most of all, there are disturbances in Shashi Tharoor’s statement. He also was caught sending emails to the director. We don’t have any other option but to order a CBI investigation on this case.”
Pushkar was found dead a day after the couple issued a statement saying that they are happily married and certain tweets that appeared on Tharoor’s account were posted by hackers.
Earlier Tharoor was romantically linked to Pakistani named Mehr Tarar.
Tharoor, a member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, declined to comment on the report. The Congress leader, who was in Palakkad on Saturday, visiting his grandmother, told journalists that the investigation is still going on and he cannot comment about it right now.