NEW DELHI, Jan 22:
Police may ask Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and others to join the “probe” into the mysterious death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, a day after it was directed by a Magistrate to investigate suicide and homicide angles in the high-profile case.
Investigators are “examining” the report by the Sub- Divisional Magistrate to chalk out future course of action in the case following the autopsy report mentioning “poisoning” as the cause of the “sudden and unnatural” death of 52-year- old Sunanda, sources said.
They said police may issue notices under Section 160 of CrPC (which entails witnesses to join probe) to Tharoor and 11 others including Sunanda’s brothers and son asking them to join investigations.
Asked specifically if Tharoor will be questioned, the sources said police was looking into the circumstances and the factors which caused Sunanda’s death and if required, the Union Minister may be asked to clarify certain things.
Meanwhile, Shiv Menon, Sunanda’s 21-year-old son from a previous marriage, said his mother was “too strong” to commit suicide and she died due to an “unfortunate combination of media stress, tensions and a wrong mix of different medication”.
However, he ruled out that there was any foul play, saying both Tharoor and his mother were “very much in love” despite their “occasional differences” and that he did not believe the Union Minister was capable of harming her physically.
“What the media reports have been alleging and implying in regard to my mother’s death are not just untrue, it’s outrageous. Anyone who knew my mother would simply know that she was too strong to commit suicide,” he said in a statement.
“I also do not believe that Shashi was capable of physically harming her, let alone the speculation that he could have taken her life,” he said.
Sunanda 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.
“It was an unfortunate combination of media stress, tensions and a wrong mix of different medication. Her death was peaceful, she passed in her sleep. Please let her soul rest, I think there has been enough attention drawn towards her life,” Menon said.
Meanwhile, sources said autopsy report has identified the mix of two drugs -Alprazolam and Excedrin, which was consumed in overdose by Sunanda. Excedrin is a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.
The autopsy report also mentions a “deep teeth bite” on the edge of the left palm apart from mentioning over a dozen injury marks.
However, the report ruled out Sunanda’s death due to these injuries. It said she died between 1 pm and 7 pm.
The five-page report also includes the search and seizure memorandum of the police (concerning search and seizure).
Doctors said Excedrin contains 65mg of caffeine and its overdose causes caffeine intoxication leading to the weakening of liver while overdose of aspirin may cause bleeding of intestine.
They said an overdose of Acetaminophen may damage one’s liver and even cause death. Alprazolam slows down the movement of chemicals in the brain and an overdose can lead to comatose situation, low blood pressure and shallow breathing.
According to the autopsy report, no trace of alcohol was found in Sunanda’s body.
The SDM, in his report, 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.
Sources said what caused the poisoning and what sort of drug was involved will be clear after the viscera report.
They said the viscera samples have already been sent to the CFSL and their analysis will reveal what was it and in what quantity.
The SDM in his report said under Section 176 of CrPC his job was to determine cause of the death which has been established as poisoning.
Any death within seven years of marriage is legally required to be investigated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.(PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel