Police to seek legal opinion
HYDERABAD, APRIL 4
The city police today registered a case of cheating against Shoaib Malik based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Siddiqui, father of Ayesha, the Hyderabad girl who claims to be the wife of the former Pakistan cricket captain.
Siddiqui in his complaint, which was lodged hours after Shoaib today confirmed his marriage with tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15, had accused the Pakistani cricketer of cheating his daughter.
The Banjara Hills police said a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (dowry harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) has been booked against Shoaib and they will take up the investigation after verifying facts of the complaint.
Shoaib, who landed here yesterday, had denied earlier in the day that he had ever entered into a wedlock with Ayesha.
A senior police officer told reporters they will soon take legal opinion on the complaint filed by Ayesha Siddiqui.
“The Banjara Hills police have received a complaint by Ayesha Siddiqui against Shoaib Malik. We have registered a case against Shoaib. Now we will take legal opinion quickly before taking further action,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Co-ordination), Dwarka Thirumala Rao said.
Cheating case against Shoaib
He said there were some legal complications involved in the case and they “will have to examine whether a foreigner committing an offence on a foreign soil comes under the purview of IPC or not”.
“The legal opinion will be taken quickly and we will proceed further as the marriage is on April 15,” he added.
Malik is now likely to be questioned by the police.
The development surfaced even as there are reports that hectic parleys are on to resolve the dispute between Malik and Ayesha, after the former claimed to be the Pakistani cricketer’s wife.
Ayesha also accused Malik of offering a bribe of Rs 100 crore to underplay their ‘marriage’ and not go to the media with her side of story.
Former Indian cricket team manager Vankenna Chamundeswaranath is believed to be trying to broker peace.
Chamundeswaranath had come to the residence of Sania Mirza, whom Shoaib is set to marry this month, this morning to meet the Pakistani cricketer, who flew in here yesterday.
Chamundeswaranath is expected to carry the message to the Siddiquis who have threatened to sue Shoaib if he didn’t divorce Ayesha before marrying Sania.
Meanwhile, Shoaib is expected to meet Pakistan High Commission to obtain a ‘Izazatnama’ which is required for Pakistani nationals to marry someone other than a Pakistani.
Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik was in city last evening attending convocation at ISB but it is not clear whether any meeting took place between Shoaib and the High Commissioner.
According to sources, 20 rooms were booked for Shoaib’s marriage with Sania in Taj Krishna hotel here. A famous designer from Delhi is expected to design wedding dress for the couple.
