Shashi Tharoor’s Wife: Sunanda Pushkar –

Sunanda Pushkar (27 June 1962 – 17 January 2014) was an Indian-born Canadian businesswoman, well-known as the wife of Shashi Tharoor, a prominent politician and former international diplomat. Her career was diverse and she frequently found herself in the media spotlight due to her marriage and associated controversies.

Early Life and Education of Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

Sunanda Pushkar, born Sunanda Dass, came from a Kashmiri Pandit family in Bomai, Sopore. Her father, Lt Col Pushkar Nath Dass, served in the Indian Army. Following the destruction of their home by militants in 1990, her family relocated to Jammu. Sunanda completed her schooling at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ambala and Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jhansi, and graduated from Government Women’s College in Srinagar between 1986 and 1988.

Personal Life of Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

Sunanda’s personal life included several significant relationships:

1. First Marriage: She married Sanjay Raina, a fellow hotel management graduate, but they divorced in 1988.
2. Second Marriage: In 1991, she married Sujith Menon in Dubai. They had a son in 1992, and Sujith died in an accident in 1997.
3. Third Marriage: Sunanda met Shashi Tharoor in 2009 and married him in 2010 in a traditional ceremony in Kerala. This was the third marriage for both of them. ( You are reading about Shashi Tharoor’s Wife )

Business Career of Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

Sunanda Pushkar’s business career was marked by entrepreneurial ventures and managerial roles:

• Early Career: She began as a receptionist at the Centaur Lake View hotel in Srinagar. After moving to Dubai, she launched an event management company called Expressions.
• Marketing and Management: Sunanda worked as a marketing manager at Bozell Prime Advertising and later as the general manager for Best Homes.
• TECOM Investments: She joined TECOM Investments in Dubai, contributing to the International Media Production Zone project and achieving significant financial success.
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IPL Controversy Involving Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

Sunanda Pushkar’s involvement with Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) and the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala brought considerable controversy:

• She received sweat equity worth ₹700 million in RSW.
• Allegations surfaced that Shashi Tharoor misused his ministerial position for her benefit, leading to his resignation.
• Sunanda initially announced she would relinquish her stake in RSW but continued to hold it due to procedural constraints.

Twitter Incident and Death of Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

In January 2014, intimate messages between Shashi Tharoor and Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar were posted on Tharoor’s Twitter account, causing a media uproar. Sunanda admitted to posting the messages, accusing Tarar of pursuing her husband.

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On 17 January 2014, Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a New Delhi hotel room. Initial reports suggested suicide, but later investigations indicated an unnatural death by drug overdose. The case saw multiple investigations and legal proceedings, with charges of abetment to suicide and murder being considered. In August 2021, Shashi Tharoor was cleared of all charges.

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Legacy and Controversies of Shashi Tharoor’s Wife Sunanda Pushkar

Sunanda Pushkar’s life was marked by her business accomplishments and personal challenges. Her untimely death remains a subject of public and legal intrigue, highlighting issues of media influence, political dynamics, and the complexities faced by prominent public figures.( You are reading about Shashi Tharoor’s Wife )