{"id":25437,"date":"2017-08-30T16:27:28","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T10:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=25437"},"modified":"2017-08-31T13:37:56","modified_gmt":"2017-08-31T08:07:56","slug":"sunanda-pushkar-death-delhi-hc-gives-delhi-police-2-weeks-file-status-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/india-news\/sunanda-pushkar-death-delhi-hc-gives-delhi-police-2-weeks-file-status-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunanda Pushkar death: Delhi HC gives Delhi Police 2 weeks to file status report"},"content":{"rendered":"

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has filed a PIL with the Delhi High Court seeking a time-bound court-monitored multi-disciplinary probe into the death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The bench of Justices GS Sistani and Chander Shekhar are hearing this case.<\/p>\n

On the last date of hearing (August 1), the Delhi Police had filed copies of the status report which the counsel for Sunanda Pushkar\u2019s son Shiv Menon, wanted to examine. The court has not taken lightly to the fact that the final report has not been filed even three and-a-half years after the death.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like to know where you have reached,\u201d the court asked the Delhi police, adding: \u201cYou have made things peculiar. We hear cases that are older\u2026 For us, this case is as good or bad as any other matter. We want to know what happened for three years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The court gave Delhi Police two weeks to come up with the status report, failing which, the court warned, \u201cwe will look into it\u201d.<\/p>\n

At the last hearing Sunanda\u2019s son Shiv Menon had said that he was highly concerned about the steps taken. The court had said that he and the petitioner should exchange the copies of their applications. It may be recalled that Menon had objected to Swamy\u2019s intervention and had questioned his locus standi in this case.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday\u00a0Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain was present from the Union of India. He said: \u201cI want to make a submission, that so far as that petition is concern, this is not an adversarial petition. Petitioner has brought in a certain aspect. Ultimately, it has to be analysed by this court. And we have brought the investigation documents which can be shown to the bench in the chamber, all senior officers are present from Delhi Police\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this matter samples have gone to scientific labs in the US three times. I don’t want to open my report in the court room. The DCP is here, please have the report in your chambers,” Jain said to the bench.<\/p>\n

The ASG also said: \u201cOn our part there has not been any delay, and after seeing the report you may find this. If you still feel not satisfied you can take action.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bench said: \u201cAs you were not here Mr Sanjay Jain, we want to share with you the synopsis of previous hearings. We want to know why the status report has not been filed in the death of Sunanda Pushkar since January 2014. We have told the son (Menon) that we are not opposing the petition, but we want to know the cause of the death and what has been done so far. Where we have reached since Jan 2014, we want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Respondent Jain said: \u201cUltimately, the analysis of the report will say where we have reached and for that it is essential to see the report.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bench said: \u201cWe are not monitoring your investigation and we are not questioning your investigation. We just want to know where we have reached up till now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bench then asked Swamy if he had anything to say.<\/p>\n

$\"Subramanian$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Swamy said: \u201cI am not seeking the exclusion of the Delhi Police from the SIT investigation. I want them to be part of the CBI enquiry or the SIT investigating team. I want their cooperation in the matter. The police journal says that the name of the poison is not important but also says that when it comes to drawing a conclusion it is poison you have to investigate. Four times they have said that this is an unnatural death and the cause of death is poison. They have gone to the FBI and all the things, in all what they have done so far is delay the proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) clearly said that this is a case of poisoning and it is an unnatural death. I wrote last year to the government saying that this should be referred to a SIT. The government said \u2018we are into the investigation and this would delay the proceedings\u2019. Today also they are saying the same thing,\u201d said Swamy. \u201cThey have gone around the world to know the name of the poison and now they say the name of the poison is irrelevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bench asked the government counsel: \u201cWe want to know how close we are in the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Counsel Jain said: \u201cCertain agencies are examining the matter and the cause of death. Some said it is poison and some said it is not. Thereafter it was sent to the US forensic lab. We have to analyse the answers which have come. This will take some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bench asked for a clarification: \u201cBy you, is it unnatural death?\u201d<\/p>\n

Counsel Jain\u2019s reply was not clear. He said: \u201cThe individual is totally immaterial in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was when the bench said: \u201cWe are saying something, listen to us. We posted it after two weeks and in the meantime please read the report and if something different comes out please tell us. Otherwise, we will look into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the bench told Swamy: \u201cWe don’t know whether they are going to file the closure report or a charge sheet. If they file a charge sheet your problem is solved.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"