(Getty)
Sunanda Pushkar, the wife of former U.N. Under Secretary General Shashi Tharoor, has been found dead according to reports in India.
Her husband has confirmed, via spokesperson, that police are investigating her death.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Her Death Comes as a Major Shock
Spine chilling news: Sunanda Pushkar eliminated. Clearly, she knew too much
— Madhu Kishwar (@madhukishwar) January 17, 2014
Pushkar was found dead in a posh five-star hotel in Delhi. The circumstances surrounding her death have not been made clear. Early reports indicate that Pushkar may have committed suicide.
She was found in room 345 at The Leela Palace in the nation’s capital.
The Leela Palace Hotel in New Delhi. (Google Plus)
2. The Day Before Her Death She Was Involved in Major Twitter War
Pak journalist Mehr Tarar speaks to TIMES NOW, says she will sue Sunanda Pushkar for calling her an ISI agent pic.twitter.com/3pjMEZQWRu
— TIMES NOW (@timesnow) January 16, 2014
Her shocking death comes just a day after she took to Twitter to accuse Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar of being in love with her politician husband via his account. The couple later issued a joint statement which stated that they were happy in their marriage, it read:
We wish to stress that we are happily married and intend to remain that way. Sunanda has been ill and hospitalised this week and is seeking to rest. We would be grateful if the media respects our privacy
Pushkar went even further to suggest that Tarar was an agent of the ISI, something Tarar claimed was endangering her life.
What the hell. Sunanda. Oh my God.
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) January 17, 2014
I just woke up and read this. I'm absolutely shocked. This is too awful for words. So tragic I don't know what to say. Rest in peace,Sunanda
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) January 17, 2014
One message that the Tarar allegedly sent to Tharoor read:
I love you, Shashi Tharoor. And I go while in love with you, irrevocably, irreversibly, hamesha. Bleeding, but always your Mehr.
3. She Lived in the Public Eye
In 2012, Pushkar attracted controversy when she was caught on video assaulting a man at Thiruvananthapuram airport. She accused the man of touching her inappropriately.
4. Pushkar Was a High-Profile Business Woman
Sunanda Pushkar dead, may be a case of suicide. Shashi Tharoor was present at the AICC meet which ended at 5 PM (PTI) pic.twitter.com/qfazLz4XBN
— TIMES NOW (@timesnow) January 17, 2014
She was sales director at Dubai-based realty company Tecom. In 2010, her other business venture with a company called Kochi IPLteam ended when she was forced to resign from the company’s board over allegations of corruption involving her husband Shashi Tharoor.
5. She Was in Her Third Marriage
Pushkar’s husband, Shashi Tharoor, was a high-profile U.N. politician until he resigned in 2007 after losing the Secretary General election to Ban Ki-moon. (Wikipedia)
Her marriage to Tharoor was her third. Her first marriage was to a business man named Sanjay Raina who was from the disputed region of Kashmir. After that marriage ended in divorce, she married Sujith Menon, another businessman who was killed in a car crash in 1997. Pushkar will be survived by her son from that marriage, Shiv Menon, 21.
Shashi Tharoor was, in addition to his roles in the U.N., a prominent member of the Indian parliament and government minister.