New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday discharged senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in a case related to his wife Sunanda Pushkar's death in a luxury hotel here.
Special Judge Geetanjali Goel passed the order in a virtual hearing. The court said there is no evidence against him warranting trial in the case.
Tharoor thanked the judge, and said it was an absolute torture for last seven-and-a-half-years and that it was a great relief.
"Most grateful, your honour. It's been seven-and-half years of absolute torture. I really appreciate it," he said.
Later, in a statement, he called the charges levied by the Delhi police against him as "preposterous". Tharoor said the order brings a significant conclusion to a long nightmare which enveloped him after the tragic passing of his wife.
"I have weathered dozens of unfounded accusations and media vilification patiently, sustained by my faith in the Indian judiciary, which today stands vindicated," the statement said.
"In our justice system, the process is all too often the punishment. Nonetheless, the fact that justice has been done, at last, will allow all of us in the family to mourn Sunanda in peace," he said.
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.
Tharoor was charged under sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 306 of the Indian Penal Code by the Delhi Police, but was not arrested in the case. He was granted bail on July 5, 2018.
Last month, the court had adjourned the order for August 18, while allowing the prosecution to file certain documents, including various judgements from the Supreme Court and high courts, along with written submissions. On April 29, May 19 and June 16, the order was deferred due to the pandemic impacting the judicial work. The pronouncement was adjourned again on July 2, after the court received an application from the prosecution seeking one week's time to file written submissions.
During the arguments, while police had sought framing of various charges, including 306 (abetment of suicide), senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Tharoor, told the court that the investigation conducted by the SIT completely exonerated the politician of all the charges levelled against him.
Pahwa had sought Tharoor's discharge in the case, saying there was no evidence against him to prove the offence. He had earlier told the court that the family and friends of Pushkar have maintained that she couldn't have died by suicide, and there cannot be abetment charge on this ground.
The maximum punishment for the offence is 10 years of imprisonment.
Pahwa had earlier claimed that post mortem and other medical reports established that it was neither a suicide nor homicide.
After the pronouncement of the order, Pahwa said that the charges levelled by the police for abetment to suicide and cruelty were absurd and preposterous.
He said that even the most essential ingredients of the offences were not present in this case.
All the reports of various medical boards including Psychological Autopsy Reports exonerated Tharoor from the charges of homicide or suicide, he said, adding that the charge sheet was filed without any basis.
Advocate Gaurav Gupta, also representing Tharoor, pointed out that there was no complaint by anyone for harassment or abetment to suicide by any of the family members or friends of Sunanda Pushkar.
"I am happy that at last after 7 years Justice has prevailed and he has been honourably discharged from all the charges made by Delhi Police against him," Pahwa said.
(With PTI inputs)
