The body of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Shashi Tharoor was cremated in New Delhi today. The Lodhi road crematorum was flocked by her friends and relatives and a battery of media persons. Sunanda's 21-year-old son Shiv Menon lit the pyre. Shashi Tharoor, her father and brother were among the family members present.

Earlier, her body was taken from AIIMS to Tharoor's residence at Lodhi Estate, where a number of prominent political leaders including Defence Minister A K Antony, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit paid tributes to her.

52-year-old Sunanda was found dead in her suite at the Leela Palace hotel last evening. A three-member panel of doctors headed by Dr Sudhir Gupta, which conducted an autopsy on her body said it is a case of sudden unnatural death. Speaking to the media Dr Gupta ruled out poisoning as the cause of death. He said there were certain injuries on her body, which may or may not relate to the cause of death. He also said the autopsy was videographed and the final report will be received in a couple of days.

Sunanda and Tharoor were at the centre of a raging controversy when reports emerged that she was upset over reported text and tweet messages between her husband and Mehr Tarar, a Pakistani journalist.

Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said inquest proceedings have been initiated by the sub-divisional
magistrate of the area. Any death within seven years of marriage is legally required to be investigated by the sub-divisional magistrate.