This Article is From Jan 10, 2015

Sunanda Pushkar Death: Medical Report That Led to Filing of Murder Case

Sunanda Pushkar Death: Medical Report That Led to Filing of Murder Case

FILE: Sunanda Puskhar and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor (Reuters photo)

New Delhi: Four days after the Delhi Police controversially filed a murder case in the death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, details have emerged of the medical opinion from doctors which convinced it do so a year after she died. "Natural death is ruled out," the report from doctors at Delhi's premier AIIMS hospital states in bold, say sources, asserting that Ms Pushkar was poisoned.

The medical opinion, dated December 29, 2014, had been handed over last month to the city police which dubbed the contents as one that "necessitated a murder inquiry".

According to sources, the medical opinion highlights that there were several injury marks found on Ms Pushkar's body, which seemed to have been caused by a sharp object. It also reportedly points out a bite
mark on her hand. The report, sources say, also mentions shards of glass that were found on the carpet and near the curtain of the suite of a Delhi hotel where the 51-year-old was found dead in January last year, suggesting a possible scuffle.

A recent forensic examination of the mattress retrieved from the suite in November, sources say, also revealed a patch mark which turned out to be the victim's urine which, the report says, was discharged "either in deep sleep or the unconscious state of the victim for long hours". Tests on the urine sample reportedly showed traces of caffeine, cotinine, alcohol and acetaminophine which had also been revealed in an earlier forensic examination.

But sources say doctors, in the report, also pointed out that they were still awaiting the "inventory of the articles found at the crime scene" which, they say, "has neither been placed on record nor handed over to the board," suggesting that a complete opinion would be possible once that happens. "It needs to be placed before the board," the report adds, say sources.

Earlier this week, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said that Ms Pushkar had not committed suicide, adding that said she was poisoned - either orally or via an injection - but did not name a suspect. The police have indicated that Mr Tharoor will be among those to be questioned.
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