Sunanda Pushkar case: Shashi Tharoor moves court for anticipatory bail

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday, July 3 moved an anticipatory bail plea in a sessions court in Delhi. Tharoor was earlier summoned as an accused by a magisterial court for the alleged offences of abetment of suicide and committing cruelty towards his late wife Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor. Additional Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday, July 4.

The court has also sought response of the Delhi Police to Tharoor's plea. On June 5, the court took cognisance of the nearly 3,000-page charge-sheet filed by the police in the four-and-half year-old case. In the charge sheet, police named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty. Tharoor has been charged under Sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has been named one of the key witnesses in the case.

In his plea filed through advocate Vikas Pahwa, Tharoor said the charge sheet has been filed without arrest and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has categorically stated that investigation has been concluded and no custodial interrogation is required.

“We have applied for anticipatory bail for Dr Shashi Tharoor, which was listed in the court of Shri Arvind Kumar ASJ Patiala House New Delhi. Notice has been issued to the state and the matter is fixed for consideration for grant of bail on July 4,10 am. The investigating officer was present in the court,” said Pahwa. “The law is very clear that if the chargesheet is filed without arrest the bail is inevitable. We have only requested for protection under Section 438 CrPC so that we appear in the court on July 7,” pointed out Pahwa.

After a magisterial court had taken cognisance of the offences against Tharoor, his counsel had termed the prosecution's case "absurd and preposterous".

Commenting on the issue, senior Congress leader AK Antony said, “Legal procedures in the case are underway. But I don't believe allegations against Shashi Tharoor. I had a good relationship with his family when they got married. I think there is politics in the allegations. Let the court decide.”

With agency inputs

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