TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
Cops seize passport, asked not to leave country
Hyderabad, April 5
Investigating a complaint of cheating against him, police today took away the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and asked him not to leave the country.
A team of police officials visited the posh Banjara Hills residence of Sania Mirza, whom Shoaib is slated to marry on Apr 15 and where he is staying since his arrival on Saturday, and questioned him for more than an hour on the complaint filed by the family of Ayesha Siddiqui, who has claimed to have married him and that he has cheated her.
“The city police questioned Shoaib Malik for one-and-half hours and they have also seized his passport. Immigration authorities have been informed about the case filed against Malik and the seizure of his passport,” Additional Commissioner of Police (coordination) D Tirumala Rao said.
Another official said they were trying to collect evidence.
“Shoaib is cooperating and Sania is supporting him. They say they know the truth behind the whole issue,” he said.
During the questioning, Shoaib told the police that he had been “cheated” by the Siddiqui family and tricked into marriage.
However, Shoaib appeared before the media in the evening with Sania by his side, and said he would not leave India as he wanted to clear his name. He expressed confidence of getting the passport back by the evening. He claimed that he was being emotionally blackmailed by Ayesha.
Shoaib said he has not done anything wrong and questioned why Ayesha was not appearing in public to make her allegations.
Both he and Sania said they were from respectable families with the tennis star adding that “to see my future husband like this (answering questions about marriage) is painful for both the families”.
“I’m here for the marriage and to clear my name. I’m not leaving the country. Inshallah, I’ll clear my name. I have no objections (to police taking the passport) and I’m cooperating with the police and Indian government. I have got respect for the authorities and I will do everything to clear my name. I’m ready to face any type of questions. I’ll get my passport in the evening,” Shoaib said.
Asked about the allegations by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims she was pregnant through Shoaib, he said, “I just want to ask something. I don’t know exactly why she is making these allegations behind the camera. Where is she? Ten years back I was 18-years-old. Find out her age.”
He said first she has to prove (the marriage) in a court of law but maintained that the ‘nikahnama’ was invalid. Better leave the issue to courts, he said.
Sania interjected to say that “we are all from very respectable families. These are questions people (don’t) face before getting married. That is not what we want. We want to clear his name and as Indian, it’s my responsibility and our responsibility to let police investigate.
“We all come from respectable families and these are not nice questions. We would rather get married and be happy than answer questions about first, second and third marriage.”
The tennis star said she and her family had complete faith in Shoaib who never hid anything from them. “He and my family have known the truth all along. At no point he kept us in the dark. Even when he decided to go ahead with the marriage (with Ayesha), he informed us.”
She also questioned the ‘nikahnama’ saying “If there was no ‘nikah’, it cannot be proved. If the court proves, then he will do whatever is required. If it is not proved by them, then we know what is truth.”
Sania also asked the media to leave the issue to the court, saying it’s not right to discuss it in public.
“Of course I’m upset (to face questions) but we are happy that we are together and we are happy that we are getting married,” she said adding there was no apprehension to their marriage which would be held as scheduled.
The Pakistani cricketer had yesterday claimed that he was emotionally forced into the ‘nikahnama’ with the Hyderabad girl but said the marriage was invalid as her family had cheated him and ruled out divorce.
He said to this day he has not met the girl whose photographs were sent to him by the Siddiqui family purported to be that of Ayesha.
The charges against Shoaib are that of harassment of Ayesha, cheating to marry another girl and criminal intimidation including threats to her to keep quiet, according to Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan.
Ayesha’s father in his complaint, which was lodged hours after Shoaib yesterday confirmed his marriage with Sania, had accused the Pakistani cricketer of cheating his daughter.
The Banjara Hills police said that a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (dowry harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC has been registered against Shoaib and they will take up the investigation after verifying facts of the complaint.
The Siddiquis also stepped up their attack on Shoaib saying Ayesha had a miscarriage through him and he should openly apologise and seek divorce.
“We don’t want any damages or monetary compensation,” Dr Shams Babbar, a friend of the Siddiquis, told reporters at their residence.
Meanwhile, Shoaib’s lawyer Ramesh Gupta said his passport and mobile have been seized by police. They will decide whether to file an anticipatory bail application though they don’t apprehend his arrest.
