Breaking her silence over the raging IPL Kochi controversy, Sunanda Pushkar today batted for her friend Shashi Tharoor, describing the union minister as a "principled" man and denying accusations that she was fronting for him.
In an exclusive telephonic interview with PTI from Dubai, Sunanda hit out at the media for "haunting" Tharoor and making him out to be a corrupt person.
"Shashi is a kind and honest person. He is a great and principled guy. It (media trial) makes me sad," she said, adding that she herself had been "reduced to a caricature in the media, portrayed with inaccuracies and falsehoods."
Lashing out at critics trying to "besmirch" Tharoor by "presenting me as a proxy for him", Sunanda, whom the minister is reportedly planning to marry, said it was "insulting for me as a woman and a friend".
Rejecting accusations that she has got equity worth about Rs69 crore in the IPL franchise as a gift because of her proximity to Tharoor, she said "Why you people can't accept that I am a businesswoman. I wanted to associate with IPL and I had tried with Kolkata Knight Riders earlier.
"I am rendering services for Kochi franchise. (I) Have advised them in getting IPL. I am also advising them on marketing and branding and hence I am getting sweat equity. It is only on paper now. I have not yet got it.
"And all the reports that I have got 18% equity makes me laugh. It is way way below this number but I can't give the numbers as I am committed to others about the confidentiality."
Sunanda said she had approached KKR last year with some ideas about branding and marketing and had discussed a possible tie-up with Shahrukh Khan's associate Karim Morani before the event was shifted to South Africa.
"Thereafter there is no connect with them. We had not talked about any equity participation as Karim himself doesn't own any," she said.
When contacted Karim debunked reports that KKR had approached her with offer of some equity, saying "she approached us in Dubai with some good ideas. We had asked her to come to India for further discussions but it could not be taken any further as the event was shifted to South Africa."
Asked about her relationship with Tharoor, she said that their personal life should not be pried upon. "My personal life is nobody else's business. And If I have a marriage to announce, I will do it myself, rather than leave it to strangers...
"I have lived a life of integrity and committed no crime, yet I am treated in a humiliating manner. My parents, friends and family members have been hounded by intrusive journalists...I would request the media to respect my privacy."
During the entire interview, which lasted for about half-an-hour, Sunanda did not utter a word about IPL chairman Lalit Modi, whose tweet last week about the identities of the Kochi franchisee owners, including her, triggered the controversy.
Earlier in the day, Modi had told PTI that it was part of his job as IPL Chairman to ensure the identity of owners of each franchise to ascertain where the money was coming from and had wondered as to why Sunanda was getting free equity.
She is reportedly getting 18% of the 25% stake of Rendezvous Sports World in Kochi team.
"What is the value she is bringing to Kochi?", Modi wanted to know.
