Was asked to give false autopsy report of Sunanda Pushkar, alleges doctor
New Delhi: The AIIMS doctor who headed the team of forensic experts that conducted the postmortem of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of former Union minister Shashi Tharoor, alleged on Tuesday that he was pressured by a influential UPA minister to change the autopsy report.
Dr Sudhir Gupta made the disclosure in an affidavit to the central administrative tribunal.
A copy of a letter written by Dr Sudhir Gupta of AIIMS to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on June 5 (Photo: India Today)
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Gupta claimed that he is being targeted because he did not give in to the pressure and submitted a report stating that Sunanda died of death poisoning, which could be suicidal or homicidal.
The government on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the AIIMS on the reported allegation.
"After I became the Health Minister, Dr Sudhir Gupta of AIIMS had written to our department regarding his promotion. But after TV channels yesterday said that he has made a specific allegation, I have written to the AIIMS Director seeking a detailed information in this regard," Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.
The allegation by Dr Gupta, who heads the Forensic Science department of AIIMS, has added a new twist to the mystery surrounding the death of 52-year-old Sunanda.
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in suite 345 of Delhi's Leela hotel on January 17, 2014. Her body was reportedly found by Tharoor around 8 pm, when he returned to the hotel after attending a meeting of the All India Congress Committee.
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Gupta refused to comment on his reported allegation, saying he has already stated the facts before the "competent" authorities.
"I don't want to comment on this issue. It is a legal matter, a serious issue, I cannot share with the media. I am a government servant. Whatever I wanted to say, I have said at a competent place," he said.
The autopsy report had mentioned more than a dozen injury marks on Sunanda's both hands and an abrasion on her cheek which suggests a "use of blunt force", besides a "deep teeth bite" on the edge of her left palm. Viscera samples were preserved after the autopsy at AIIMS and were sent to CFSL for further tests.
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The CFSL report hinted at drug poisoning but its findings were not conclusive enough to file an FIR in the case, according to police.
The search and seizure memorandum of the police, which is a part of the report, mentioned finding of mix of two drugs - Alprazolam and Excedrin. Excedrin is a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine while Alprazolam is an anxiolytic.
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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.
Inquest proceedings under Section 174 CrPC were initiated in the Sunanda case according to which a sub-divisional magistrate inquires into the death of a woman if she dies within seven years of her marriage.
In a report to the police, the SDM, who had recorded the statements of Sunanda's brother, son, Tharoor and his staff, had said that no family member suspected any foul play in the death.
When asked about the issue, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said he was not aware of the allegations made by Dr Gupta.
"I am not aware of the allegations made by the doctor. I would look into the matter when it comes to me," he said.
Asked whether the Delhi Police, which is investigating the case will question Dr Gupta, Bassi said that they will decide the case on merit.
Sunanda Pushkar had said she would expose IPL deals,Vadra's name would also have surfaced,will file a petition-Subramanian Swamy,BJP
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2014Sunanda Pushkar autopsy report case : Shashi Tharoor evades questions pic.twitter.com/ep8woc9usr
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2014Statement issued from Shashi Tharoor's office pic.twitter.com/mrkM7YEe6D
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2014