Delhi Police form SIT to probe Sunanda Pushkar's death case

New Delhi, Jan 7: The Delhi Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into Sunanda Pushkar death case, city Police Commissioner BS Bassi told reporters on Wednesday.

The announcement comes a day after Delhi Police registered a case of murder in the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.

"The special team which was formed to investigate the murder is looking into each and every possibility of the case and whatever is needed will be done," he told the media.

Bassi told reporters that DCP South will head and monitor the probe by SIT which will also have Additional DCP South, one inspector and an SHO, says media reports.

On being asked whether Tharoor could also be questioned, Bassi said: "We will do, if needed."

Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi police chief BS Bassi informed the media that medical analysis conducted by experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) concluded that Pushkar died an "unnatural death".

"We have got the final medical report from AIIMS, and we have been told that it was an unnatural death. It was not a natural death," Bassi said.

"She died due to poisoning. Whether the poison was given orally or injected into her body is being investigated," he said, adding that the report from AIIMS was received on December 29.

Bassi said the quantum of poison given to Pushkar, who was 52 at the time of death, had not yet been ascertained. "For that we will send her viscera abroad."

Asked why it took almost a year for the final medical report to come, he said the interim report spoke of poisoning but did not say it was an unnatural death. "Even overdose (of medicines) can be poisoning."

Reacting on this, Tharoor said he was "stunned" at the development. "I am stunned to hear that the Delhi police have filed a case of murder against unknown persons in the demise of my late wife Sunanda.

"Needless to say, I am anxious to see this case is investigated thoroughly and continue to assure the police of my full cooperation," he said in a statement.

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in the five-star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, a day after her Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over an alleged affair with Shashi Tharoor.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)