Tharoor writes to Shinde for speedy probe into Sunanda's death

Union minister Shashi Tharoor Sunday wrote a letter to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde urging him to issue instructions for expediting a probe into the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

Tharoor said he was "horrified to read the reckless speculation rampant" in the media.

The minister of state for human resource development offered his full cooperation in the probe into the death of 52-year-old Sunanda Pushkar at a hotel in the capital and said the truth should emerge at the earliest.

"In the midst of my mourning, I have finally had a chance to catch up with the media reports and am horrified to read the reckless speculation rampant there," Tharoor said in his letter to Shinde.

"I am appealing to you to issue instructions to the relevant authorities to expedite their investigation and come to a rapid conclusion so that the truth emerges at the earliest," he said.

"I pledge full and unstinting cooperation. Nothing short of the truth will end the indignity to which my wife and I are being subject at a time when all I seek is to be allowed to grieve in private with her and my near and dear ones."

Doctors Saturday said Pushkar died an "unnatural, sudden death" with her body bearing "injury marks".

Police, however, said "it could be a case of drug overdose or overdose of sleeping pills" but added that things would be clear only after the detailed autopsy report.