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 Rs 69 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 per cent 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."