SIT conducted forensic psychological tests on Tharoor, son Shiv Menon and Tharoor’s PS Narain Singh
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar relied heavily on the forensic psychological autopsy of seven people close including her husband Shashi Tharoor, personal staff Narain Singh and son Shiv Menon to conclude that she committed suicide, sources said.
Investigating the case for more than four years, the Delhi Police on Tuesday filed a charge sheet in a Delhi court accusing Pushkar's husband Tharoor of abetting her suicide.
The medico-legal and forensic evidence were analysed during the investigation but after carrying out the psychological autopsy, the investigators came up to the conclusion that Pushkar committed suicide and booked Tharoor for abetment of suicide and for subjecting her to cruelty.
Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak said, "The charges have been filed on basis of out psychological autopsy."
The test was carried out last year and the SIT had also informed the Delhi High Court about it.
This test is carried out usually in those cases where death is unexplained, and no accused has been named.
Psychological autopsy is a tool to examine the state of mind of the people close to the deceased in order to reconstruct events leading up to the death.
Tharoor, Narain Singh, Shiv Menon and four friends of Sunanda went through the test last year in December.
"A series of questions were asked in an interview format and the police tried to reconstruct the state of mind of the people when the crime took place," said Pathak.
Through this test, the police gathered information on the cognitive functioning, psychological well being, state of physical health and her Sunanda's social behaviour.
The tests were carried at CBI's forensic lab in Delhi.
However, AIIMS experts stated the test helps the investigators in their probe but the report not admission-able in the court.
The findings of forensic psychological tests cannot be used as evidence like the lie detection test is not admissible. These tests can not be used as evidence under the Evidence Act.
As per the experts, the psychological autopsy is one of the effective tools for providing information and answers in suicide cases.
Like a physical autopsy, the psychological autopsy attempts to explain why a person has taken their life by analyzing medical records, interviewing friends and family, and conducting research into a person's state of mind prior to their death.
TIMELINE
Jan 16, 2014 Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, called up journalist Nalini Singh and said that she would expose Tharoor and also how IPL team Kochi Tuskers was financed. A day ago, she was involved in a Twitter spat with Pakistani Journalist.
Jan 17 Sunanda was found dead in suite number 345 at the Leela Palace Hotel. Tharoor’s PS instead of dialling the PCR informed the SHO. Several teams of the Delhi Police reached the room.
Jan 18 AIIMS forensics head Dr Sudhir Gupta carried out the post-mortem and initial findings suggested that it was a sudden unnatural death.
Jan 21 Since Pushkar was married to Tharoor for a period of over three years and the marriage was less than 7 years old inquest proceedings were initiated by the SDM. It was revealed that Pushkar died of poisoning.
Jan 23 Then Delhi CP BS Bassi transferred case to Crime Branch.
Jan 25 The case was transferred back to the South Delhi Police. Sources stated that it was after Crime Branch officials stated that they would register a case of murder after which the case was transferred back.
Jan 1, 2015 Delhi police registered a case of murder under section 302.
Jan 21 The SIT probing the case conducted polygraph test on six persons including Tharoors’ domestic help Narain Singh, driver Bajrangi.
Feb The Delhi Police sends Pushkar’s viscera samples to FBI in US.
Nov The Delhi Police received an advice from AIIMS on the report from FBI which stated that Pushkar’s death could be due to poisoning and ruled out any radio-active poisoning.
Jan 10, 2016 AIIMS medical board suggested that Pushkar could have died due to poisoning possibly by drug Alprax, the strips of which were also seized from the hotel room. Pushkar even had a wound on one of her fingers.
Oct 4 Delhi Police turned to the ED asking them to investigate the financial irregularities in setting up of the IPL Kochi team to unravel the mystery. Pushkar owned around 19% shares in the IPL Kochi Tuskers team which was terminated by the BCCI in 2011 for breaching its terms of agreement.
Jan 2018 Forensic psychological profiling of Tharoor and his employees
April 20 Delhi Police in its affidavit filed in the apex court said that a draft final report has been prepared after conducting ‘thorough professional and scientific investigations’.
May 14 The Delhi Police filed a chargesheet accusing Tharoor of abetting Sunanda’s suicide.
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