NEW DELHI: Union minister Shashi Tharoor has not been given a clean chit by Delhi Police yet in the mysterious death of his wife, Sunanda Pushkar. Breaking his two-month silence on the case, police commissioner B S Bassi said on Monday that evidence was still being examined and all angles being probed.
The briefing came in the wake of news’s report that apart from ruling out poisoning, Sunanda’s viscera report also stated that no trace of the anti-anxiety drug, Alprax, was found in her stomach.
This contradicts the autopsy report which had categorically mentioned drug poisoning as the cause of death and found presence of Alprax.
The commissioner said, as of now, the department will not register any FIR as there was no reason to do so. “From the circumstantial evidence collected so far and from the statement of witnesses, there is no reason for us to proceed in any other direction. Therefore, we are carrying on our inquiries under Section 174 of CrPC,” Bassi said.
The viscera report comes as a jolt to investigators who were banking on it to get some clarity on the nature of the poison and its quantity. But CFSL’s report has complicated matters further.
Investigators are waiting for opinion from AIIMS doctors who had carried out the autopsy, hoping that they would shed some light on the cause of the 52-year-old’s death by interpreting the viscera report. Investigators may also seek a re-examination of the viscera, a source said.
The sub-divisional magistrate, who had inquired into the matter, has been informed about the report. The magistrate had directed the Delhi Police directing to investigate if Sunanda had killed herself or had been murdered.
The autopsy report had said the death was sudden and unnatural and was caused by poisoning. The SDM’s report to the police also contained the statements of Shashi Tharoor, his father, brother-in-law, step-son, helps and his personal secretary. None of Sunanda’s family members have said they suspect foul play in her death.
Cops are also looking into the injury aspect of the autopsy report which found over a dozen injury marks on Sunanda’s hands and an abrasion on her cheek which suggests a “use of blunt force”, besides a “deep teeth bite” on the edge of her left palm.
Bureau Report
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