Do not believe that Shashi Tharoor was capable of harming my mother, says Sunanda Pushkar's son

Shiv Menon, son of late Sunanda Pushkar, said that his mother was too strong to commit suicide and he does not believe that union minister Shashi Tharoor was capable of physically harming his mother.

"Anyone who knew my mother would simply know that she was too strong to commit suicide. I also do not believe that Shashi (Tharoor) was capable of physically harming her, let alone speculation that he could have taken her life," Shiv Menon said in a statement.

Shiv Menon said the media coverage has forced him to speak out for his mother and issue the statement.

"They (Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar) were very much in love, despite occasional differences, which they overcame. It was an unfortunate combination of media stress, tensions and a wrong mix of different medication," Shiv Menon's statement said.

It added that what the media reports have been implying in regard to his mother's death was not only just "untrue" but "outrageous".

Shiv Menon also requested the media to let his mother's soul rest in peace.

Shiv Menon is Sunanda Pushkar's son from her second marriage with Delhi-based financial consultant Sujit Menon.

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her room at the Leela Palace hotel here Jan 17. A report by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, who is probing her death, said Sunanda died of poisoning.

The investigations are incomplete and would continue.