The court held that huge losses have been incurred by the hotel authorities in the guise of the investigation
A Delhi court on Monday summoned the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South district, while rapping the cops for their "lethargic attitude" towards investigating the death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Dharmendra Singh directed the DCP to be present on the next date of hearing — September 12. The court was hearing a plea filed by the Leela Hotel authorities to de-seal suite number 345, where Pushkar was found dead on January 17, 2014.
The court held that huge losses have been incurred by the hotel authorities in the guise of the investigation. "Due to the lethargic attitude of Delhi Police, the plaintiff (hotel) has already suffered a lot," MM Dharmender Singh said.
During the proceedings, the Delhi Police filed a status report, which stated that the forensic teams had visited the suite recently and collected evidence. They sought more time to complete the probe. "Till the reports clearly indicate 'no further requirement', the suite cannot be opened," the police said.
Following this, the court asked what evidence was to be collected three years after the incident.
On July 21, Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma had ordered de-sealing of the suite within four weeks, saying that the hotel could not be put to unending hardship due to the laxity on part of the police.
The court, however, had said that the probe agency would be at liberty to visit the suite before filing a compliance report regarding de-sealing. It had also noted that no offence was found on part of the hotel. The police were allowed to take out articles lying inside the suite with due care for the purpose of the probe.
PASSING THE BUCK
- The Delhi High Court on August 30 had rapped the Delhi Police for its delay and lackadaisical attitude in investigating the case.
- Referring to the slow pace of the investigation, the bench observed, “It has been almost over three years but nothing concrete has come up as of today.”
- Referring to the delay, the Additional Solicitor General then claimed that the delay was due to receiving the scientific reports from various agencies and not at the individual level of the police.
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