Shashi Tharoor Charged With Abetment To Suicide And Cruelty In Marriage

Member of Parliament representing Thrivunanthapuram and former minister of state for external affairs and human resource development Shashi Tharoor has been charged with abetment of his wife Sundanda Pushkar’s suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has also been charged with cruelty to his wife during the marriage from 2010 to 2014 under Section 498A.

Pushkar, was found dead in the suite of her five-star hotel in Delhi on 17 January 2014, days after accusing her husband of being involved with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar. The couple reportedly had a disagreement on a Kerala - Delhi flight. Police had questioned Tharoor then but no action was taken.

A case was filed without naming anybody in where the police declared that Pushkar, was poisoned.

Under Section 306, Tharoor – a former United Nations diplomat – is liable to be punished with a ten year jail term if found guilty. Under Section 498A – which penalises the accused for subjecting their wives to cruelty and is a non-bailable offence –Tharoor is liable for a three-year jail term if found guilty