Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on his way to a police station for questioning
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor admitted to "marital trouble" during his four-hour questioning by the Delhi police on Monday on the alleged murder of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, who was found dead in a five-star hotel in Delhi a year ago.
"He was cooperative," Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi told reporters on Tuesday.
"We spoke to him about the background, what happened on that day and certain things said in the media. We will analyse his response and decide whether any further questioning is required," Mr Bassi added.
Sources say Mr Tharoor was calm when he was asked over 50 questions by a team of four officers in the first of a likely three rounds of interrogation.
The police chief indicated that the couple's involvement in the Indian Premier League was being examined. "Questions related to IPL are relevant, and whatever is relevant will be asked," he said. Mr Tharoor had to resign as union minister in 2010 after accusations of corruption linking him to the cricket franchise for his home state of Kerala - Ms Pushkar was allegedly given stakes worth about $15 million (around Rs. 94 crore) for free.
Mr Tharoor "answered most questions" and did admit to some extent that there was marital trouble, said sources. A year ago, just after the death, he had told investigators that there were "misunderstandings" but he and Sunanda had a largely happy marriage.
The police have said Mr Tharoor is being questioned as a witness, not a suspect. Asked whether he was still a witness, Mr Bassi said, "We are examining it with an open mind. I would not want to reach a conclusion midway as to who is a suspect and who is only a witness. "
On January 6, the police launched a murder inquiry after stating that Ms Pushkar who was 51, was poisoned, but did not name a suspect. Mr Tharoor said that he was "stunned" to discover the police believe she was killed.
The police have questioned several friends, aides and staff members of the Tharoors, who married in 2010. Mr Tharoor was a union minister in the previous Manmohan Singh government when Ms Pushkar publicly accused him of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist. Two days later, she was found dead in her bed in the hotel suite that the couple had checked into.