New Delhi, February 21: Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday appeared for trial before a Delhi sessions court, which is hearing the murder case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. Tharoor has been charged as the key accused, with the prosecution booking him under IPC sections 498A (subjecting wife to cruelty) and 306 (abetment to suicide).

Tharoor was chargesheeted by the Delhi Police last year, after an inquiry report found incrementing evidence against him. The court, which is hearing the case, had on June 5 last year summoned the Thiruvananthapuram lawmaker, claiming that there is sufficient ground to proceed a case against him. Arnab Goswami Defends Republic TV's Right to Access Sunanda Pushkar Case Documents.

Days before the trial commenced, on February 4, the Patiala House court in Delhi had dismissed BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's plea to assist the bench in the case. Another court also dismissed his petition seeking a direction to the Delhi Police to allow him to assist in the prosecution of Tharoor.

Pushkar, a noted businesswoman, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the room of a luxury hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014. She, along with Tharoor, was staying in the hotel as their official bungalow was under renovation.

Tharoor, who has been charged of abetting the alleged suicide, had dismissed the accusation levelled against him. The Congress veteran called the "preposterous", intended to politically deride him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2019 10:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).