Police want to use forensic psychology in Sunanda murder probe, seek eight more weeks

The high court said the probe started in 2014 and it was September 2017 now when the police wants to pursue an additional mode of investigation.

The Delhi Police on Thursday told the high court that it wanted to pursue a new mode of investigation, called forensic psychology, in the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a five star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. (Hindustan Times)

Forensic psychology is an emerging field that makes up an integral part of criminal investigation, prison and profiling systems, which is now used in some developed countries. Police said this mode of investigation would take a maximum of eight weeks after which it will file its report.

The high court said the probe started in 2014 and it was September 2017 now when the police wants to pursue an additional mode of investigation. “Should any investigative agency drag the probe for so long?” the high court asked.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the police, said this new tool of investigation, which relates also to the personal questioning of certain individuals, was being resorted to ensure that “no stone is left unturned”.

Taking note of the submission, the high court told the police to file an affidavit within two weeks placing on record the approximate time that would be taken to conclude its probe.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who had sought a court-monitored SIT probe into Pushkar’s death, said the franchisee cricket tournament Indian Premier League was also an angle which needed to be examined in the case.

He sought to make the Enforcement Directorate a party in this matter.

The court, however, refrained from going into this aspect saying it will consider it at an appropriate stage. “We do not want to create any distraction at this moment,” the court said and listed the matter for further hearing on October 26.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a five star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.