Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has filed for bail in Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Tuesday, in the Sunanda Pushkar death case. His plea comes just a day before the court is likely to hear the case, in which he was chargesheeted by the Delhi Police for abetment of suicide in May this year.
According to the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police, Tharoor has been charged under sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code, in the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar in January 2014.
Shashi Tharoor’s counsel reportedly told ANI, “SIT categorically stated in chargesheet that probe is concluded and no custodial interrogation of any person is required. The law is very clear that if chargesheet is filed without arrest, bail is inevitable. Matter fixed for consideration at 10 am tomorrow.”
Sunanda Pushkar death case: Shashi Tharoor has moved an anticipatory bail plea in #Delhi's Patiala House Court
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2018
SIT categorically stated in charge sheet that probe is concluded & no custodial interrogation of any person is reqd. Law is very clear that if charge sheet is filed without arrest, bail is inevitable. Matter fixed for consideration at 10 am tomorrow: Counsel of Shashi Tharoor
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2018
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a hotel room on the night of January 14, 2014 in New Delhi. On May 14, 2018 in response to the Delhi Police’s claims that there was enough evidence against the senior Congress leader in the case, he was summoned by a Delhi Court.
Tharoor had refuted the allegations, calling them ‘baseless’, and had stated to the media that he “will continue to vigorously contest these charges and maintain my steadfast conviction that ultimately the truth will prevail through the judicial system that we are privileged to have in our country.”
The police chargesheet claims that Sunanda was harassed by Tharoor and was driven to suicide. Under section 498A, if found guilty, this is punishable with 3 years imprisonment, while a sentence of up to 10 years can be given under section 306.
Delhi’s Patiala House Court is likely to hear the case on Wednesday, July 4.