A Special Court in Delhi Wednesday cleared Congress leader Shashi Tharoor of all charges in the case pertaining to the mysterious death of his wife, Sunanda Pushkar, in 2014.
Special Judge Geetanjli Goel passed the order discharging Tharoor finding no sufficient material and grounds to frame charges against him.
The former Union minister was booked under Sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 498A (marital cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code in 2014.
Public Prosecutor Atul Kumar Srivastava appeared on behalf of the state, while senior advocate Vikas Pahwa represented Tharoor.
Shashi Tharoor, who was present during the virtual hearing, thanked the court and said it had been absolute torture for the past seven-and-half years. The senior Congress leader on Wednesday said his faith in the Indian judiciary stands vindicated and the ruling brings a “significant conclusion to the long nightmare” which had enveloped him.
Taking to Twitter, Tharoor posted his statement and said, “This brings a significant conclusion to the long nightmare which had enveloped me after the tragic passing of my late wife Sunanda.” “I have weathered dozens of unfounded accusations and media vilification patiently, sustained by my faith in the Indian judiciary, which today stands vindicated,” the former Union minister said.
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a hotel room in January 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel, as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.
The medical report had indicated the presence of drugs in Sunanda Pushkar’s system. While the initial investigation had been on whether it was a murder, the police finally filed a chargesheet for suicide.
(With inputs from ANI)
