Sunanda Pushkar
Even as the mystery deepens with each day into the death of former Union minister Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar, Delhi police sources said they were collaborating the forensic evidence reportedly showing traces of urine on the victim’s bed.
A highly-placed source said that Sunanda had reportedly urinated before she died. The investigators are looking into whether traces of urine had any link with her death. The police on Thursday sought a clear opinion from the AIIMS forensics department explaining the contradictions between the autopsy and viscera reports. While the autopsy had hinted to death by poisoning, the viscera samples report had ruled it out.
Sources also said that the police was also looking into the fresh injection mark found on Sunanda’s arm. “We want to ascertain whether some injection was given to her before she collapsed.”
The police is also re-examining the CCTV footage of the hotel to see who all had entered her room. “Before the police team reached the spot, one TV crew had already reached the place.”
Sunanda Tharoor, 52, was found dead in her room in a five-star hotel on January 18, days after her public spat on the social media with a Pakistani journalist whom she suspected was involved with her husband.
Meanwhile, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has put on hold any change in the head of department (HoD) of the forensic department in AIIMS till July 11.
Sources in the premier institute say that they are waiting for the AIIMS director for further action in the case. AIIMS director M.C. Mishra, who finds mention in Dr Sudhir Gupta’s affidavit for allegedly putting pressure on him, is on leave and will join office on Monday.
“According to the rules, the director may order immediate suspension pending inquiry or may ask for preliminary inquiry report before initiating any action,” said a senior doctor. While Dr Gupta has sought permission from the AIIMS administration to speak to the media, it is learnt that a decision on it also will also be taken by the director.
Dr Sudhir Gupta, the head of forensic medicine who led the team conducting the post-mortem, has alleged that he was pressured to “manipulate the autopsy report of Sunanda Pushkar”. Besides raising questions over Sunanda Pushkar’s death, Dr Gupta has also pointed fingers at the post-mortem report of north-eastern student Nido Tania, whose death had sparked a huge controversy. In his letter to health minister Harsh Vardhan, the HoD alleged that there was a “malafide” move to oust him from the present post which was linked to the post-mortem of Sunanda Pushkar and Nido Tania as he had taken a “professional and ethical” stand which went against “vested interests”.