Wife of Indian minister found dead, following reports he had an affair

The wife of Indian minister Shashi Tharoor has been found dead, following reports he had an affair, Indian media say. Sunanda Pushkar is reported to have been found dead in a five-star hotel in Delhi, according to police sources.

The couple became embroiled in controversy over a series of Twitter messages on Wednesday Jan. 15th that appeared to reveal he was having an affair with Pakistani journalist, Mehr Tahrar. They later insisted they were happily married, blaming "unauthorised tweets". Ms Pushkar admitted publishing the tweets, but later denied it.

Reports said that her husband had informed the police of her death. It was unclear how she died. Mr Tharoor married Ms Pushkar, a former Dubai-based businesswoman, in 2010.

Ms Tahrar, who denied having an affair with the minister, tweeted after she heard of Ms Pushkar's death: "I'm absolutely shocked.

"This is too awful for words. So tragic I don't know what to say. Rest in peace, Sunanda."
Mr Tharoor, a former UN diplomat, was forced to resign from his first ministerial position in 2010 amid controversy over his involvement in bidding for a cricket team.

Ms Pushkar had allegedly received a free stake in the Indian Premier League franchise he was bidding for.

Source: BBC