Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday filed an anticipatory bail in the Sunanda Pushkar death case. The bail application was made in the Patiala House Court in Delhi, which summoned Tharoor on June 5 as an accused and the move comes a day after Tharoor’s counsel accessed the Delhi Police’s charge sheet.
Special Court judge Arvind Kumar issued a notice to the Delhi police seeking their response. The matter will be heard on Wednesday at 10 am despite the Delhi Police seeking more time to file their response.
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Following the bail application being filed, Tharoor’s counsel, Sr Advocate Vikas Pahwa, issued the following statement:
“We have applied for anticipatory bail for Dr Shashi Tharoor, which was listed in the court of Shri Arvind Kumar ASJ Patiala House New Delhi. Notice has been issued to the state and the matter is fixed for consideration for the grant of bail tomorrow 10 am. Ld PP was not present, however, The investigating officer was present in the court.
The charge sheet has been filed without arrest. The SIT has categorically stated in the charge sheet that investigation is concluded and all requisite material & evidence have been collected and no custodial interrogation of any person is required. The law is very clear that if the charge sheet is filed without arrest the bail is inevitable. We have only requested for protection so that we appear in the court on 7th July.”
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On June 9, after Shashi Tharoor’s counsel appeared before the Patiala House court after he was issued summons as an accused, Republic TV had revealed details of Tharoor’s legal strategy which entailed a plan to move a bail application on the next date of hearing.
At that time, Tharoor’s counsel had said that they would speak only after taking action or moving something before the court. During the hearing on June 7, the judge had taken cognisance of the Delhi Police’s charge sheet against Tharoor where charges had been admitted against him under IPC 306 (Abetment to suicide) and IPC 498 (Cruelty).
Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. A number of investigative reports by Republic TV have highlighted the Delhi Police’s shortcomings in the case prior to the charge sheet finally being filed.