Sunanda Pushkar autopsy report ‘fudged’: Suicide or foul play?

New Delhi: Amid a raging controversy over the post-mortem report on former Union minister Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar, the government Wednesday sought a detailed report from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. On Tuesday, the head of AIIMS’ department of forensic medicine and toxicology, Dr Sudhir Gupta, who headed the team that conducted the post-mortem, had alleged he had been “pressured” to “manipulate the autopsy report of Sunanda Pushkar”.

The AIIMS authorities, however, categorically denied that Dr Gupta had been subjected to any pressure, and claimed he was “making up these allegations” following reports that he may be replaced.

Mr Tharoor, in a statement Wednesday, sought a “clear and definitive conclusion” to the probe into his wife’s death at the earliest, “so as to put all speculation to rest”.
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead at a five-star hotel in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area on the night of January 17, a day after her Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over the latter’s alleged affair with Mr Tharoor.

Read: Sunanda Pushkar was killed, SC should probe the case: Subramanian Swamy

Besides raising questions over Sunanda Pushkar’s death, Dr Gupta also pointed fingers at the post-mortem report of Northeast student Nido Tania, whose death sparked a huge controversy in the national capital. According to news agency reports, in a letter to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, Dr Gupta alleged a “mala fide” move to oust him from his post was linked to the post-mortem of Sunanda Pushkar and Nido Tania as he had taken a “professional and ethical” stand that went against “vested interests”. Dr Gupta has also headed the team that conducted Nido Tania’s post-mortem.

The Delhi police, meanwhile, said that if necessary Dr Gupta would be questioned over the issue, and it has not ruled out further interrogation of Mr Tharoor “if needed”. Delhi police commissioner B.S. Bassi said apart from Dr Gupta being examined, his affidavit would also be put on record.

Read: Pushkar death doctor made up false charges: AIIMS

Mr Bassi said while a special investigation team, headed by Delhi Police inspector Atul Sood, had already probed Sunanda’s death under Section 174 CrPC, which is required in the case of all unnatural deaths, a further inquiry could not be ruled out in case there is a “new development”. He added, “I cannot reveal any more about the probe.”

In an affidavit filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Dr Gupta alleged he was asked “to prepare a tailor-made autopsy report giving a clean chit irrespective of his professional conclusions”. He also alleged that this was done at the instance of former Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad (who is ex-officio president of AIIMS) “with mala fide intention”.