Shashi Tharoor Seeks Anticipatory Bail Days Before Court Appearance

Just days before he was to appear as an accused for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, Congress MP Sashi Tharoor moved an anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday and it is likely to be heard tomorrow.

Tharoor moved the plea this morning before Additional Special Judge Arvind Kumar who has sought response of the Delhi Police while posting the hearing for tomorrow since the Public Prosecutor was not present in the court.

Tharoor’s counsel senior advocate Vikas Pahwa said, “The charge sheet has been filed without arrest. The SIT has categorically stated in the charge sheet that investigation is concluded and all requisite material and evidence has been collected and no custodial interrogation of any person is required.”

“The law is very clear that if the charge sheet is filed without arrest, bail is inevitable. He (Tharoor) has been shown in column 11 without arrest. We have only requested for protection from Sessions court so that we appear in the court on July 7,” said Pahwa.

It is to be noted that on June 5, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal had issued an order summoning Tharoor, who has been booked for abetment of suicide and cruelty, to appear before him on July 7.

“I have gone through and perused the charge sheet and documents filed along with it by the Special Investigation Team…On the basis of the police report, I take cognizance of offence of abetment of suicide punishable under Section 306 IPC of the late Ms Sunanda Pushkar and of committing cruelty upon her punishable under Section 498A IPC by Dr Shashi Tharoor,” the ACMM had said.

“There exist sufficient grounds to proceed against Dr Shashi Tharoor for commission of offence under Sections 306 and 498A IPC. Issue summons to him for his appearance on July 7 at 10 AM,” he had ordered.

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in May naming Tharoor as an accused and said that Pushkar had, in an email to Tharoor, expressed her wish to die. “I do not care about the tests. I have no will to live, all I pray for is death.”

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a suite in Leela Hotel in South Delhi on January 17, 2014.