'Unnatural sudden death' for Sunanda Tharoor, say doctors

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor, wife of Union minister Shashi Tharoor, was found dead at the Leela Hotel last night. (File Pic)

New Delhi:  Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor, wife of union minister Shashi Tharoor, died an "unnatural sudden death", one of the doctors who conducted her autopsy at Delhi's AIIMS hospital said today. The doctor also spoke of injuries on her body but refused to reveal more information.

"We are focusing on investigating the reason for the sudden unnatural death. Physical injuries on Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's body may or may not be related to her death," Dr Sunil Gupta said. He also added that a final report of the post-mortem examination, which was photographed and filmed, can be expected in two to three days. 

After the autopsy, Mrs Tharoor's body was shifted in an ambulance to the Tharoors' Lodhi Road residence in south Delhi where friends and family will pay their homage. Mr Tharoor left the hospital in another ambulance. The final rites will take place at a cremation ground around 5:30 pm.

Mrs Tharoor, 52, was found dead in the posh Leela Hotel last night, days after she alleged that her husband was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist, who she targeted in a series of angry tweets. 

Mr Tharoor, 57, complained of chest pains this morning and was admitted to the same hospital. The junior minister for Human Resources Development was discharged a little before noon. His statement was recorded by the Delhi Police very late last night. 

Mrs Tharoor's iPad and iPhone have been picked up by the police from the hotel suite where she was staying.  CCTV footage from the hotel is being examined by the police, which is also questioning hotel staff. 

Yesterday, Mr Tharoor attended a mega-conference of his Congress party.  When he returned to the Leela Hotel, at about 8.30 pm, his wife did not respond to requests to open the bedroom door.  The minister accessed her room with help from the hotel staff and found his wife lying dead on the bed.  

His assistant told NDTV that the couple had checked into the Leela Hotel on Thursday because their house was being painted. However, Mrs Tharoor had told NDTV on Wednesday evening that she had moved into the hotel alone and that she was "heart-broken" because she had discovered a series of text messages that proved an alleged affair between her husband and Pakistani reporter Mehr Tarar. 

But on Thursday, the Tharoors issued a joint statement in which they said they "are happily married and intend to stay that way."