Politician Shashi Tharoor said his wife would never commit suicide, and termed the charges of abeting her suicide “unbelievable”.
“I have taken note of the filing of this preposterous charge sheet & intend to contest it vigorously,” Tharoor said.
“No one who knew Sunanda believes she would ever have committed suicide, let alone abetment on my part.
The chargesheet is both a vindication as well as cause for concern for Tharoor.
The chargesheet has dropped the initial charge of murder, degrading the case from one of murder to suicide, and extricating Tharoor from murder charges.
However, at the same time, the Delhi Police accuses Tharoor of abeting the suicide. Any action that encourages or leads another person to commit suicide is considered abetment under the law.
“If this is conclusion arrived at after four-plus years of investigation, it does not speak well of the methods or motivations of the Delhi Police,” Tharoor added.
“In Oct 2017, the Law Officer made a statement in the Delhi High Court that they have not found anything against anyone & now in six months they say that I have abetted a suicide. Unbelievable,” he said.
Today’s chargesheet only mentions sections 306 and 498A. Section 306, relating to abetment to suicide, carries a maximum term of 10 years, while 498A carries a maximum term of three years.
The chargesheet also mentions ‘physical altercation’ between the couple.
Today’s move indicates that the investigating agency has not been able to find any evidence to substantiate allegations that the Congress Party MP killed his wife, as alleged by some public figures.
BJP politician Subramanian Swamy is among several people who have been accusing the government of trying to orchestrate a cover up.
Commenting on today’s development, Swamy said evidence in the case were destroyed and that he will try to get the murder charges reinstated.
“The trial is where the final charges will be decided,” he said, adding that the court can institute new charges if they feel the requirement. “That is what I will be insisting on,” he said, adding that he continues to believe that it was a murder and not a suicide.
Swamy also said Tharoor will be punished if the case is argued carefully. “I will not let the trial go this way or that way,” he added.
Similarly, journalist Arnab Goswami too has been highlighting the case.