Sunanda Pushkar case: Supreme Court disposes of Swamy's plea for SIT probe
New Delhi, July 13 : The Supreme Court on Friday disposed of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking a court monitored SIT probe into the death of Sunanda Pushkar, observing that a charge-sheet has already been filed and the trial has commenced.
Justice Arun Mishra and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said "this matter is over" even as Swamy sought the court's permission to make some comments.
Pushkar was wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Police have accused Tharoor of abetment to suicide. The trial court has granted Tharoor bail in the case.
Pushkar, who married Tharoor in 2010, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a room at the Leela Palace Hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014.
Swamy had approached the top court against the Delhi High Court's order that dismissed his plea for a court-monitored probe into Pushkar's death.
On October 26, 2017, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Swamy's plea while terming it as a "political interest litigation".
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
