NEW DELHI, Jan 24:

The Crime Branch probing the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar will go for advanced forensic tests to determine cause of injuries on her body as it tries to unravel whether it was a case of suicide, homicide or accident.

Investigators said autopsy report had mentioned more than a dozen injury marks on Sunanda’s body besides a “deep teeth bite” on the edge of her left palm and they were trying to ascertain whether the injuries were “inflicted” on her.

They said doctors who conducted autopsy on her body had preserved Sunanda’s skin samples where the injuries were found and the advanced forensic tests like histopathology will be carried out to determine how old the injuries were and its causes.

Union Minister Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda, 52, was found dead in a 5-star hotel in South Delhi on Friday night, a day after her twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over an alleged affair with Tharoor.

The probe into the high-profile case was transfered to the Crime Branch yesterday considering its “sensitive nature” and “complexities” involved.

The autopsy report had mentioned use of blunt force for the injury marks on both her hands and left cheek.

Forensic experts are of the view that whether the injuries were self inflicted or otherwise can only be ascertained by detailed histopathology tests.

On Tuesday, a sub-divisional magistrate had directed Delhi Police to investigate the murder or suicide angles in the case that the nature of those injuries and how old they were, would help them in the case.

Top officials of south district police, who were handling the case till yesterday, today briefed the Crime Branch investigators about the case in an hour long meeting.

The investigators said they were also waiting for the toxicology report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to know what sort of poison had caused her death as the SDM report had concluded that she died of “poisoning”.

In a report to the police, SDM, who has recorded the statements of Sunanda’s brother, son, Tharoor and his staff, had said that no family member suspected any foul play in the death.

The autopsy report mentioned finding of mix of two drugs – Alprazolam and Excedrin – in Sunanda’s body. Excedrin is a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

The SDM, in his report, had said Sunanda could have died in “just three ways, homicidal, suicidal and accidental” and police should investigate further to ascertain the reason of her death.

Any death within seven years of marriage is legally required to be investigated by the sub-divisional magistrate.

The South district police, which had questioned a number of staff of Leela Palace hotel in Chanakyapuri where Sunanda was found dead, handed over all case details to Crime Branch team today.

The police had also seized Sunanda’s iPad and phone and preserved the CCTV footage of the lobby of the third floor of the luxury hotel where she was staying.

All the case properties were handed over to the crime branch. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : A Swiss national was today killed while five of his associates were rescued after they were struck by an avalanche during skiing in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg.
The deceased has been identified as Arno Roy.
The avalanche hit the Gulmarg tourist resort between Kongdoori and Afferwath when the group of six skiers from Switzerland was enjoying the sport on the slopes this afternoon, police said.
Police said Roy was among three tourists who were trapped in the snow and was later found dead by the rescuers.
The other tourists escaped with minor bruises and were rescued by local authorities, the police said.
Kashmir Valley including Gulmarg, a star attraction for tourists, experienced heavy snowfall early this week. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court today decided to examine the issue whether people holding constitutional posts have the right to protest against the Government.
The apex court granted six-week time to the respondents to reply to two PILs, filed by M L Sharma and Rajaraman.
A bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and Shiva Kirti Singh issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi Government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The apex court, however, refused to entertain the prayer for criminal action against Mr Kejriwal, his Law Minister Somnath Bharti and other colleagues who held two-day-long dharna at the Rail Bhavan demanding suspension of five Delhi police officials for their inaction against alleged criminals in their areas till the completion of judicial inquiry ordered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
The petitioners contended that the persons holding constitutional posts have no rights to protest against the Government.
The apex court will now examine the very important issue whether a person holding a constitutional post can deprived of his fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression as a citizen of the country.
The court, however, declined to consider the issue of criminal action against Mr Kejriwal and his team in view of the judicial inquiry ordered by Mr Jung and the criminal investigation by the Delhi police which is under way. The Judge to hold judicial inquiry is yet to be named.   (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : Hundreds of vehicles today left Jammu as the highway connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country will remain open for only one-way traffic. However, no vehicle from Srinagar to Jammu will be allowed today, a traffic police spokesman said here.
He said the highway, which was closed on January 22 was reopened yesterday afternoon. However, only stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed towards their respective destinations. All the stranded vehicles on both sides of the Jawhar tunnel were cleared till late last night.
Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers stranded at Jammu for the past three days, left the winter capital this morning for Srinagar. A large number of trucks, carrying essentials, including fresh vegetables, rice, atta, LPG cylinders, fruit, sheep are also on way to Srinagar from Jammu.
However, no vehicle was allowed from Srinagar, he said, adding that only one-way traffic will continue on the highway till further orders.
The highway was closed on January 22 due to heavy snowfall and landslides, triggered by heavy rains. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway cleared the snow and landslides after pressing into service sophisticated machines and men. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed his extreme disappointment over Army’s decision to close the Pathribhal fake encounter case and said the State law authorities will be asked to examine options to address this “serious” matter.
Omar said a matter as serious as Pathribal can’t be closed or wished away.
“Extremely disappointed with the decision of the army reg #Pathribal. Will ask the Law Dept & Advocate General to examine options.
A matter as serious as #Pathribal can’t be closed or wished away like this more so with the findings of the CBI so self evident,” he tweeted.
Nearly 14 years after the Pathribhal fake encounter that rocked the State, Army has closed the case saying the evidence recorded could not establish prime facie charges against any of the five accused persons.
Army authorities have conveyed this decision to the Court of the Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar.
“The evidence recorded could not establish a prime facie case against any of the accused persons,” a defence spokesman said in Jammu.
However, it was “clearly established that it (the Pathribal encounter) was a joint operation by police and the Army based on specific intelligence,” the spokesman said.
“The case has been closed by Army authorities and  intimation given to the Court of the Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar,” the spokesman said yesterday.
CBI had in 2006 indicted five army personnel for staging the encounter while giving a clean chit to State police.
After it was handed over the case in January, 2003, CBI alleged that officers and jawans of the Seven Rashtriya Rifles — Brig Ajay Saxena, Lt Col Brahendra Pratap Singh, Maj Saurabh Sharma, Maj Amit Saxena and Subedar Idrees Khan — had staged a fake encounter and killed five innocent civilians whom they said were terrorists involved in an attack on Sikhs at Chittisinghpora in south Kashmir.
Five persons were killed on March 26, 2000 at Pathribal in South Kashmir. (AGENCIES)