Cops study Sunanda Pushkar report

New Delhi: The fresh report submitted to the police by AIIMS doctors on the reasons for the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar is “inconclusive”, according to Delhi police, even as the BJP and the Congress were locked in a slanging match on the issue.

Delhi police commissioner B.S. Bassi dismissed suggestions that police had been lax in collecting evidence and that the probe should be handed over to CBI, asserting that the force was “competent” to handle the case. The Delhi police was also mulling to opt for advanced forensic tests.

“The forensic report is inconclusive. The status of our inquest is pending,” Mr Bassi said.

“The first thing I would like to tell you is that we still do not have a conclusive forensic report on the basis of which we can reach any conclusion. As far as the police is concerned,  our inquest is pending.

“When we reach any conclusion based on complete forensic evidence, we will draw conclusion and then we will be able to share any information with you,” said the Delhi police chief.

The police may now seek another expert-opinion from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) or go in for advanced forensic tests to clear the air, sources said.

The 12-page “Subsequent Medical Board Opinion”, submitted to police on September 30 by a panel of AIIMS doctors, said that the medical board again concluded like it had done in its first report that her brain, kidney, lungs and liver were functioning normally and that her death was caused by poisoning.

Asked whether the Delhi police will now register an FIR in this connection, he said, “Inquest is pending. Once inquest is complete, whatever is required will be done.”

On suggestions whether the case should be transferred to CBI, Mr Bassi said the Delhi police is “competent” to carry out the probe.

Congress advocated caution on the Sunanda death case and accused BJP of doing “politics” over the issue, which it said was “entirely a legal process”.

“Congress’ stand is clear. When a legal process is taking place, you do not comment on every document, every comma and fullstop. Every week a new document may come up,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

As earlier Union minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday too favoured a fresh probe into the Sunanda Pushkar death case, saying it “requires an inquiry”.

“If there is a new report, then there should be aninquiry into it,” the parliamentary affairs minister said when asked to comment on the fresh inquiry report suggesting death of poisoning.