Sunanda Pushkar Death Case: Shashi Tharoor Terms Charges ‘Baseless’, ‘Product of Malicious Campaign’ Against Him

The Patiala House Court summoned Tharoor on July 7 in connection with the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

New Delhi, June 5: Hours after being summoned by the Patiala House Court in connection with the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday issued a statement terming the charges against him as “preposterous and baseless” and a “product of malicious and vindictive campaign” against him.

Reacting to the court order to appear before it on July 7, Tharoor said that he will continue to challenge the abetment to suicide charges against him, adding that truth will prevail through the judicial system.

In the statement, the Congress leader also requested the media to respect the right to privacy of him and his family. “In the meantime, I would like to request the media to respect my right to privacy as well as that of my family. Given that the matter is sub-judice, I will refrain from commenting on this issue until such time as the next scheduled hearing of the case”.

Shashi Tharoor issues a statement in connection with Sunanda Pushkar death case, says 'I find the charges preposterous and baseless, the product of malicious & vindictive campaign against myself'. pic.twitter.com/Og9tZWqeb5

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2018

Earlier today, the Patiala House Court summoned Tharoor on July 7 in connection with the Sunanda Pushkar death case. The court took cognizance of the Delhi Police chargesheet and said that there was “sufficient grounds to proceed” against the politician.

“I have gone through and perused the chargesheet along with the documents filed along with it. Cognisance taken on offence regarding abetment to suicide of late Sunanda Pushkar and for committing cruelty upon her. On the basis of the police report, I take cognisance abetment of suicide punishable under 306 IPC and cruelty under 498A IPC. There exists sufficient grounds to proceed against Shashi Tharoor for commission of offence,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said.

The court also issued notice to the prosecution demanding a written reply on BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s application.

Sunanda Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a Delhi hotel suite on January 17, 2014, days after she had alleged that her husband Tharoor was having an affair with the Pakistani journalist. The cause of death was poisoning due to Alprax tablets.

On May 14, police chargesheeted Tharoor under sections 306 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to abetment to suicide and cruelty to wife, which entails a jail term that could extend up to 10 years.