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Indian minister Shashi Tharoor's wife 'died of drug overdose' Delhi police to establish whether wife of minister 'murdered or took own life'
(about 4 hours later)
The wife of an Indian government minister, found dead by her husband in a luxury hotel in Delhi last week, died of a drug overdose, local media have reported. Police in Delhi have been ordered to establish whether the death of the wife of a government minister, whose body was found by her husband in a hotel in the Indian capital last week, was suicide, an accident or murder, local media have reported.
Doctors who conducted an autopsy on Sunanda Pushkar, 52, have been quoted attributing the cause of death to "drug poisoning." The magistrate leading the inquiry into the death of Sunanda Pushkar has accepted the conclusions of a postmortem that said the 52-year-old died from a drug overdose but ordered that further investigations were needed to determine its cause, the Press Trust of India reported.
Dr Amit Gupta, spokesman of the hospital in the Indian capital where the autopsy was conducted, confirmed to the BBC that the "preliminary report shows there was drug overdose". Pushkar was married to Shashi Tharoor who, though a junior human resources development minister, is one of the government's highest profile members.
Pushkar was married to Shashi Tharoor who, though only a junior human resources development minister, is one of the current Indian government's highest profile members. Pushkar's death came shortly after she had posted messages on Twitter from Tharoor's account indicating that she appeared to believe, after reading other messages, that her husband was having an affair with a female Pakistani journalist. Both denied the claim. Pushkar and Tharoor then issued a statement in which they said the messages had been unauthorised, and told media their marriage was happy.
Pushkar's death came shortly after she had posted messages on Twitter from Tharoor's account indicating that she appeared to believe, after reading other messages, that her husband was having an affair with a female Pakistani journalist. Both then denied the claim. Pushkar and Tharoor then issued a statement claiming the messages had been "unauthorised" and told media their marriage was happy.
Tharoor, a former UN diplomat once tipped as a candidate for the organisation's top posts, has called for a speedy investigation into his wife's death, saying he hoped this would put an end to rumours about their personal lives.Tharoor, a former UN diplomat once tipped as a candidate for the organisation's top posts, has called for a speedy investigation into his wife's death, saying he hoped this would put an end to rumours about their personal lives.
In a letter to India's home minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, Tharoor wrote about "reckless speculation rampant" in the media. In a letter to India's home affairs minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, Tharoor wrote about "reckless speculation rampant" in the media.
"Nothing short of truth will end the indignity to which my wife and I are being subjected," he said."Nothing short of truth will end the indignity to which my wife and I are being subjected," he said.
Tharoor, 57, has also given his testimony to the official leading the inquest into his wife's death. Tharoor, 57, has also given testimony to the official leading the inquest into his wife's death.
Local reports said two strips of an anti-depressant, alprozalem, were found close to Pushkar's body in the hotel room on Friday night. Local reports said two strips of an anti-depressant, alprozalam, were found close to Pushkar's body in the hotel room on Friday night.
The scandal has erupted just as the Congress party is preparing to fight a tough election against a resurgent opposition Bharatiya Janata party, as well as a new political group that promises clean and open politics. The scandal has erupted just as the ruling Congress party is preparing to fight a tough election against a resurgent opposition Bharatiya Janata party, as well as a new political group that promises clean and open politics.
Rivals have painted the Congress party as engulfed in corruption scandals and unable to hold its leaders to account for their actions.Rivals have painted the Congress party as engulfed in corruption scandals and unable to hold its leaders to account for their actions.
Tharoor, who has a reputation for eloquence and hard work, was one of the new wave of politicians who provided an alternative to traditional politics based on patronage and backroom deals, but was previously forced to resign following controversy caused by his alleged links to a cricket club.Tharoor, who has a reputation for eloquence and hard work, was one of the new wave of politicians who provided an alternative to traditional politics based on patronage and backroom deals, but was previously forced to resign following controversy caused by his alleged links to a cricket club.
The couple had taken two rooms at the $400 (£245) per night Leela Palace hotel while their own home was being renovated. He and his wife had taken two rooms at the $400 (£245) a night Leela Palace hotel while their own home was being renovated.
Subramanian Swamy, an outspoken leader of the BJP, said the circumstances of Pushkar's death needed thorough investigation. Subramanian Swamy, a leader of the BJP, said the circumstances of Pushkar's death needed thorough investigation.
"Our party has always stood for allowing free and fair investigations. Our chief ministers and ministers have resigned wherever charge sheets have been filed against them. We stand by these values," said Digvijay Singh, the Congress party's general secretary. Digvijay Singh, the Congress party's general secretary, said: "Our party has always stood for allowing free and fair investigations. Our chief ministers and ministers have resigned wherever charge sheets have been filed against them. We stand by these values."
Five members of Tharoor's staff were also questioned by the magistrate leading the inquest. Under Indian criminal law, a magistrate must conduct an inquiry if a woman dies within seven years of marriage. The Tharoors married in late 2010, the third marriage for both.Five members of Tharoor's staff were also questioned by the magistrate leading the inquest. Under Indian criminal law, a magistrate must conduct an inquiry if a woman dies within seven years of marriage. The Tharoors married in late 2010, the third marriage for both.