Mystery continues to shroud the death of Sunanda Pushkar even after Delhi Police received the second forensic report by AIIMS doctors on the reasons for her sudden demise. The report is ‘inconclusive’, as it has failed to throw light on the cause of death. Delhi
Police is now contemplating approaching Central Forensic Science laboratory (CFSl) for advance tests.However, Delhi Police is not going to accord much importance to the second forensic report submitted by the experts at AIIMS to it on September 30.
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said: “The first thing I would like to tell you is that we still do not have a conclusive forensic report on the basis of which we can reach any conclusion. The inquest proceedings launched by Delhi Police are still pending. Whenever we reach any conclusion, when we get complete forensic evidence, conclusive evidence, then we will draw conclusions and will be able to share any information with you.”
Bassi dismissed suggestions that the force had been lax in collecting evidence and that the probe should be handed over to the CBI. “We are competent enough to handle the case. The forensic report is inconclusive and the status of our inquest is pending,” he said.Sources in Delhi Police said the investigations hinges on conclusive forensic evidence to suggest that it was a case of homicide.
However, a few key questions still remain to be answered, the foremost being the mobile phone of Sunanda Pushkar that was allegedly handed over to her husband Shashi Tharoor by a senior Delhi Police officer. There are also allegations that the used strips of Alprax tablets were planted by somebody who was privy to the initial investigations. The subsequent medical board opinion submitted by the panel of AIIMS doctors clearly stated that there was no Alprax in the body.
The first post-mortem report had stated that it was death due to poisoning and was more than enough for the Delhi Police to file a case. Delhi Police officers are however, tightlipped over these allegations.Meanwhile, the 12-page “Subsequent Medical Board Opinion”, submitted to police on September 30 said that the medical board had again concluded like it did in its first report that her brain, kidney, lungs and liver were functioning normally and that her death was caused by poisoning.
The new report by the three-member panel of doctors, who had conducted the autopsy on her, was prepared on the basis of the findings of the CFSl which had examined Sunanda’s viscera.It may be recalled that AIIMS in its first post-mortem report also stated that she had around 15 injuries on her body, out of which injury number 10 caused by a syringe and injury number 12, a red coloured bite mark, required investigation.
The recent report has also revealed the presence of various drugs which could not be analyzed. This raises the question that if such drugs were present in her body how were they procured.
The report also questions the Delhi Police and the Investigating Officer for not sharing crucial circumstantial evidence. It may be noted that the first post-mortem examination report in which it was said that the death was due to poisoning was strong enough for the police to register a case and begin a probe. However even after the latest medical board opinion the police still don’t seem to be in the mood to file a case. Sources claimed that police may now seek another opinion from the CFSl or go for advance forensic tests to clear the air.
It may be recalled that Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a 5-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 Tharoor. The probe into the case was handed over to the Crime Branch on January 23. However, the case was transferred back to the South District Police two days later on January 25.