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A Delhi Court on Wednesday has discharged Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Today, during the course of hearing the Court of Special Judge Geetanjali Goel noted that Tharoor will have to put forth a bond.

Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa informed court that he will be doing so during the course of the day or by tomorrow.

The Court, 27^th July had adjourned for three weeks, the order on whether to put Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on trial in a case related to his wife Sunanda Pushkar's death.

The Special Judge Geetanjli Goel, who was scheduled to pronounce the order on framing of charges against Tharoor, had adjourned the matter for August 18, while allowing the prosecution to file certain documents that pertained to various judgements from the Supreme Court and High Courts, along with written submissions.

The Additional PP Atul Shrivastava during the course of hearing, representing the State had informed the Court that he wanted to bring on record some new judgments with respect to framing of charges in the matter.

“I will not be entertaining any further applications. Order to be pronounced on August 18 at 11 AM,” had said the Judge.

It must be noted that, 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.

Later, Tharoor was charged under sections 498A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code by Delhi police, but was not arrested in the case. He was granted bail on July 5, 2018.

Earlier, also the pronouncement of the order got deferred in the matter. The Special Judge Geetanjali Goel recently had kept the order reserved after prosecution and defence counsel concluded their arguments on the issue of framing of charges.

Earlier the Rouse Avenue Court had on June 16 adjourned the passing of the order for July 2.

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a room of a luxury Delhi hotel in mysterious circumstances on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel due to some renovation work at Tharoor’s official bungalow.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the Delhi Police after Pushkar was found dead in her suite.

In 2019, the Delhi Police had pressed for framing of charges against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor under Section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 306 (abetment to suicide) or alternatively under 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Delhi Court had reserved judgment in the matter on April 12.

Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appeared on behalf of Tharoor whereas Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava appeared on behalf of the State.

Appearing for Tharoor, Senior advocate told the court during the arguments that the probe carried out by the SIT absolved Tharoor of all the charges levelled against him. He also sought Tharoor's discharge from the case, arguing that there was no proof against the politician implicating him in the case under either Section 498A or Section 306 of the IPC.

Whereas, the Prosecution urged the Court to frame charges against Tharoor based on the prima facie existence of a case for trial in terms of Section 221 of CrPC.

Shashi Tharoor is currently on bail.

 

 [Case Title – State v Shashi Tharoor]