Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh told the Delhi Police on Wednesday that Sunanda Pushkar had spoken to him about taking the blame for the IPL controversy over the Kochi franchise.
“Whatever I knew about Sunanda, I have told the police and now I will not say anything since the matter has been taken into cognizance by SIT,” he told reporters.
According to sources, Ms. Pushkar had told Mr. Singh: “I have done a lot for this man. I was a happy-go-lucky person and I was working in Dubai and about this IPL angle I have not spoken before. Not to be blamed, I took the blame on my head. There was no wrongdoing on my part. If at all there was something to do, God knows and Shashi knows what it was.”
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He was also asked about the relations between the couple and whether Ms. Pushkar had discussed anything about Mr Tharoor's alleged affair with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar.
Talking to reporters outside SIT office, Mr Singh said: “There is no point in hiding the truth, more so when there is a matter of gruesome murder coming to light. That does not mean that I do not wish well for Shashi Tharoor or I am accusing him of any conspiracy. After all he was my dear friend's husband.”
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi told the media that the former SP leader was questioned by the SIT after he had recently told the media that he has certain information regarding the case.
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“We have formally spoken to him now. We are trying to ascertain the facts from him. We had called him today and will take all the information we require from him in this connection,” he told reporters.
Recently, senior journalist Nalini Singh had also told the Delhi Police that she had spoken to Ms. Pushkar about taking the blame for her husband in the IPL controversy. Following this, the police decided to rope in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to examine the business model of the erstwhile IPL Kochi franchise and to understand the controversy surrounding it.
The IPL controversy had broken out in early 2010 when Shashi Tharoor was the Minister of State for External Affairs. That time there were allegations that he had misused his authority to ensure a transfer of Rs. 70 crore (equivalent to 19 per cent equity in IPL Kochi franchise Rendezvous Sports) in the name of Sunanda Pushkar.
Ms. Pushkar, who was a part of the Rendezvous Sports and Mr. Tharoor's friend at that time, had refuted all allegations and later quit the franchise after deciding to return the amount. Following allegations against him, Mr. Tharoor had also resigned from his office.
Ms. Pushkar's son from one of her earlier marriages, Shiv Menon will also be called for questioning by the Special Investigating Team soon. Asked when the police would again question Mr. Tharoor in this connection, Mr. Bassi said that SIT will call him soon.