The News Minute| January 17, 2015| 4.35 pm IST

SIT reveals Sunanda Pushkar, Shashi Tharoor argued over writer Katherine Abraham

Shashi Tharoor with Mehr Tarar or Katherine: Who became the reason of Sunanda Pushkar’s murder?

Newsx-exclusive-Sunanda Tharoor death- Newsx tracks down Katie mentioned by Shashi-Tharoors domestic help

These were some of the headlines by various media organizations about a woman called Katie, over whom Sunanda Tharoor and Shashi Tharoor had reportedly fought, according to their house help.

Who was Katie?

As many news channels fell over each other to unravel each mystery related to Sunanda’s murder, some of them caught on to the Katie angle. Soon it was reported that Katie was a ‘Thiruvananthapuram-based author named Katherine Abraham’.

Some reports quoted police sources saying that Tharoor retweeted some of her tweets, and he kept in touch with the 24-year-old through Twitter.

Katie’s other ‘crime’ or ‘link’ according to these reports was that she wrote a blog inspired by Tharoor 'Letter to my inspiration Dr. Shashi Tharoor'. More 'incriminating' details tumbled out. Katie and Mehr Tarar followed each other on Twitter! She was writing Tharoor’s biography. She used the hashtag #Tharooriyan.

Some reports stopped there, with a cursory note that in spite of them approaching Katie, she was not ready to respond. But English news channel News X, sent a camera to her house in Pune. 

Katie, or Katherine Abraham, a law student was however quick to respond to this hounding by the media. She has posted a stinging blog raising questions about media ethics and why her picture was splashed on tv screens. 

“I have been insulted on Social Media, and being portrayed as a young woman of an unworthy character. The truth is that various sections of the media have been desperately trying to contact me to get a “Sound byte” or at least a comment on their theories to which I have consistently refused.

The reason I have maintained my silence for the past few days is because as a student of law I believe it is extremely important that an independent investigation is absolutely essential to bring out the “Whole Truth” rather than the carefully edited lies of the media,” she says.

Abraham says she was forced to break her silence after a News X reporter reached her residence and ‘despite her parents’ request that they will not go on record till such time as an Investigation occurs, slyly recorded what my father had to say with the help of a hidden camera.’

She says she will file a defamation suit against the channel and reporter who also apparently called her on the phone and recorded the conversation without permission.

In a long blog post, Katherine Abraham then challenges news reports. She says:

• She was neither a Thiruananthapuram (Kerala) – based author has she ever been to Thiruvananthapuram or Dubai.
• She was not writing Tharoor’s biography, but a bucket list tweet was misconstrued. She also notes that ‘the Indian media now needs lessons in Basic English.’
• Abraham says there was no illicit relationship between her and Tharoor as has been suggested, and has met him on four occasions. (Three times as a part of the audience (never unaccompanied) and once to interview him at the Adventist Media Center all in full public view, she asserts.)

Lashing out at the stories running on news channels about her, she says

• “My poems and writings have nothing directly or remotely to do with Dr. Tharoor and the assumption that every piece I have ever written on my blogs is on him is quite frankly outrageous. "

• "It has been stated constantly that a person named “Katie” was the cause for the fights between Dr. And Mrs. Tharoor. I have absolutely no inkling as to the details of this issue. It is strange that Mr. Narain Singh (whom I have never seen, known or heard of!) should even name me after I have lost direct correspondence (emails, etc) with Dr. Tharoor in 2012. "

• "My blog “Tharoorians for Change” was started in April 2012 and received excellent response world over. The blog was initiated as a platform for young people like me to share our thoughts on India. However, it had been brought to the notice of the Dr. And Mrs. Tharoor that the blog was being misconstrued as a fan club blog and that it could pose a problem to Dr Tharoor as he was part of the then ruling Government. Keeping their concerns in mind as moderator I subsequently changed the blog’s name to Progressive Indians for change. "

• "It is appalling that a young student who looks up to an International personality as a Mentor, Teacher and Inspiration has to face the flak of an uninformed media. I have always looked up to Dr. Tharoor as a Guru and continue to do so."

• I am ready to face any SIT team investigation and will comply fully with the probe should the Investigating Team need to question me. I have nothing to hide. My conscience is clear.

• Under no circumstances will I be talking to the media on this matter. I am neither a suspect nor a witness and I will not face a kangaroo court to prove anything.

The News X story on Katherine Abraham has been removed from their website. Katie's blog here.