[Sunanda Pushkar Death Case] "Justice has been upheld": Tharoor's lawyer reacts to Delhi Court's order discharging the MP from Charges

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After a Special Judge at Rouse Avenue discharged Shashi Tharoor of charges in the Sunanda Pushkar death case, his lawyer, Advocate Gaurav Gupta said that Justice has been upheld and it has come as a vindication of Dr. Tharoor's long battle for 7 years to prove his innocence.

"Justice has been upheld and delivered and I am very happy about this development. We always had full faith in the judicial system and Dr. Tharoor always believed in the truthfulness of his case," he told Lawbeat.

While commenting on the charges levelled against the Senior Congress Leader, Gupta said that that "the charges of Abetment to Suicide & cruelty completely were completely absurd and without any merit whatsoever", stating that the basic ingredients and evidence required for such charges were entirely missing from the Police's chargesheet. 

He further added that the medical reports relied upon by the Police showed that this was neither a case of suicide nor was it a case of any harassment by anyone.

"Mr. Vikas Pahwa and I appeared for Dr. Tharoor and we are very delighted at this outcome," he said.

Later in the day, Shashi Tharoor expressed his gratitude to the court for this decision.

"I would like to express my humble thanks to Judge Geetanjali Goel for her orders today, discharging me from the charges levied by the Delhi Police which I have consistently described as preposterous. this brings a significant conclusion to the long nightmare which had enveloped me after the tragic passing of my late wife Sunanda," said Tharoor.

While narrating the turmoil he faced, Tharoor added,

"I have weathered dozens of unfounded accusations and media vilification. I am grateful to my lawyers, particularly, Vikas Pahwa and Gaurav Gupta for all that they have done to bring the case to this conclusion," Tharoor said.
 

Delhi Court on Wednesday discharged Shashi Tharoor in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

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.

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.

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.