Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on January 17, 2014. Here is a timeline of the investigation.
January 17, 2014 : Sunanda Pushkar found dead in room 345 of The Leela Palace hotel in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
January 19, 2014 : Investigators had pointed out at that time that Pushkar's body had 12 injury marks including a bite mark on her hand. However, the injuries were not life-threatening but raised questions as to whether she was physically assaulted before her death.
January 21, 2014 : The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) says in his report that Tharoor’s wife died due to poisoning.
January 23, 2014 : The probe into Pushkar’s death is transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch.
January 25, 2014 : The case is transferred back to the South District Police
July 1, 2, 2014 : Controversy brews as AIIMS doctor Sudhir Gupta says he was under pressure to give a false report in the case.
September 30, 2014: AIIMS doctors submit viscera report to Delhi police.
October 2014 : The medical team probing the death concludes that she died of poisoning.
January 6, 2015: Delhi Police report that Sunanda was murdered and filed FIR in the regard. (Pushkar's domestic help alleged that Pushkar often fought with Shashi Tharoor and days before her murder, she had threatened Tharoor that she would 'disclose everything).'
November 9, 2014: The hotel room in which Pushkar was found dead is again examined by the police and forensic experts. Fluid marks found on the bed and broken glass are sent for examination.
January 6, 2015: Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi says Pushkar did not commit suicide but was murdered. He also says a murder case was registered and a probe will be conducted. Tharoor says he is stunned by the developments and that he will cooperate with police.
January 2015 : Subramanian Swamy, a BJP politician, tries to fight this case against Shashi Tharoor. He says Pushkar was given 'Russian poison.'
February 2015: Pushkar’s viscera samples sent to the FBI lab in Washington for examination and identification of poison that killed her.
March 12, 2015: Bassi says a Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar is an important link in the case and will be asked to join the investigation. Tarar says she is ready to help investigators whenever summoned.
May 20, 2015: A trial court allows Delhi police to conduct a lie-detector test on 3 suspects related to the death case.
November 10, 2015: Delhi police receive Pushkar’s viscera report from the FBI. The report says radiation in Pushkar’s viscera samples was within permissible levels and did not cause her death.
November 2015: Delhi police ask journalist Nalini Singh, who was one of the last persons to speak to Pushkar, to help with investigation. Pushkar had reportedly asked Singh to help her retrieve BBM messages between her husband and the Tarar.
March 2016: Pakistani journalist comes to Delhi, meets a senior officer and denies any knowledge of Pushkar’s death.
May 14, 2018: Delhi police file a chargesheet and name her husband and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor as accused in the case. The charge sheet is filed before before Metropolitan Magistrate Dharmender Singh under sections 498 (A) (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
