Demand for CBI probe in Sunanda Pushkar's death gains momentum

The mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of former Congress MP Shashi Tharoor still continues to baffle the investigators even after three autopsy tests.

Medical experts at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who conducted the latest test, are still unable to identify the exact poison that caused her death.

52-year-old Sunanda was found dead in a suite at the Leela Palace hotel in South Delhi on January 17.

The incident took place a day after her Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over an alleged affair with her husband, Shashi Tharoor, who was then a Union Minister.

The AIIMS medical board, who conducted the first autopsy in February, suspected drug poisoning.

Later, a report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which conducted the second report, said there were not enough drugs in her system to cause death.

CFSL had examined Sunanda’s viscera in March this year.

But police considered it as inconclusive and then sent the CFSL report to AIIMS for their second opinion.

According to media reports, a panel of AIIMS doctors submitted a fresh report to police on September 30 saying Sunanda Pushkar died of poisoning.

The fresh findings by the three-member panel of doctors were prepared on the basis of a report given by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).

It has been learnt that in the new report, “Subsequent Medical Board Opinion”, the doctors have asked for more tests, listing poisonous substances that cannot be detected easily.

They have also asked the police for documents and circumstantial evidence to help their investigations.

The report baffled the investigators. Following the latest report, Delhi Police chief BS Bassi told reporters, "The forensic evidence available is not yet conclusive. When we get a conclusive report we will share it."

"We are still in the process of conducting inquest proceedings in the case as per initial medical analysis," he added.

Media reported that the police are yet to file a case though doctors said it was a "sudden and unnatural" death. Sources said, after the new (third) AIIMS report proved to be inconclusive again, police can now go back to the forensic lab for another (fourth) opinion.

In the mean time, media reported that Sunanda’s family has alleged Tharoor’s “hand” behind her death.

"We already knew it wasn't a natural death. It was all planned and we had been asking for CBI's probe. We knew that day when they went to stay in the hotel, this was planned earlier. Why would he (Shashi Tharoor) go for a meeting when she wasn't feeling well? Even cameras weren't working in such a big hotel. It was all planned beforehand," Sunanda’s cousin Ashok Kumar is quoted by media as saying.

Not only Sunanda’s family, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy also said that CBI investigation is inevitable in the case indicating that Delhi Police were under pressure.

Speaking to media Swamy said, "The kind of poison which has been found cannot be investigated by Delhi police. This is a Russian poison which is very difficult to detect and the Delhi police is not trained for this.”

"The autopsy also establishes that there was a deep thumb mark on her body, like somebody tried to open her mouth. Most of all, there are disturbances in Shashi Tharoor's statement. He also was caught sending emails to the director,” he added.

Reacting to demand for CBI probe from different quarters, Bassi said, "We are competent to carry out the probe...Inquest is pending...And whatever is required will be done.”

"We believe in the quest for truth and whatever is required in the quest for truth... We have been doing and will continue doing," he added.