Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor was discharged by a Delhi court in Sunanda Pushkar death case on Wednesday. The order was pronounced by Special Judge Geetanjali Goel in presence of Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa who is appearing on behalf of Tharoor, Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava and Dr. Tharoor himself.
Refusing to frame charges against Mr Tharoor, the Court said that the accused is discharged and asked to file a bond under CrPC, reports Live Law.
The prosecution had pressed the charges of abetment to suicide and cruelty under sec. 306 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code and alternatively for murder under sec. 302.
Reacting to the court order, Tharoor said "Most grateful, your honour. It's been seven-and-half years of absolute torture. I really appreciate it," reports NDTV.
The Congress leader's lawyer 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.
The Court had earlier reserved the orders on April 12 after hearing Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appearing on behalf of Tharoor whereas Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava appeared on behalf of the State.
Pushkar had been found dead in January 2014 at a hotel in New Delhi. In 2015 an FIR had been filed in this regard. |Later, in May 2018, Dr. Tharoor was charged with abetment to suicide and marital cruelty under Sections 306 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code.