Sunanda Pushkar death case: It's been seven years of absolute torture, says Shashi Tharoor after Delhi court clears him of murder charges

New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday wholeheartedly thanked the Delhi court after it discharged him in a case related to his wife Sunanda Pushkar's death in a luxury hotel.

"Most grateful, your honour. It's been seven-and-half years of absolute torture. I really appreciate it," Tharoor said in his first reaction to the Delhi court verdict in the case.

The Kerala Congress MP said that the court order was a big relief for him. Tharoor also issued a statement on his Twitter handle after he was acquitted of all charges in the case. 

"...Significant conclusion to long nightmare which had enveloped me after tragic passing of Sunanda...Fact that justice has been done will allow all of us in the family to mourn Sunanda in peace," Shashi Tharoor said in the statement after being discharged by Delhi court in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

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— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 18, 2021

During the hearing in the case, his lawyers had told the court that a Special Investigation Team had completely exonerated the politician and that he should be discharged as there was no evidence to establish any of the charges against him.

During the arguments, while police had sought framing of various charges, including 306 (abetment of suicide), senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Tharoor, had told the court that the investigation conducted by the SIT completely exonerated the politician of all the charges levelled against him.

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel then passed the order in a virtual hearing.

Sunanda 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.

Tharoor was granted anticipatory bail in the matter by a Sessions Court on July 5, 2018.

Following that order, a magisterial court converted the anticipatory bail into regular bail after he appeared before it on July 7 in pursuance to the summons issued by the Metropolitan Magistrate in the matter.