Hyderabad, April 5 (Inditop.com) Police Monday began questioning Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in connection with the complaint filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his first wife.
A police team reached the residence of Shoaib’s bride-to-be and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in Banjara Hills.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravinder Reddy and Banjara Hills police inspector Iqbal Siddiqui reached Sania’s residence around 9.30 a.m. to question him.
Shoaib, who landed here Friday, has been staying at Sania’s house in preparation for their April 15 wedding.
After questioning Shoaib, police may also record Ayesha’s statement before taking further action in the case.
Following a complaint by Ayesha, a first information report (FIR) was registered Monday at Banjara Hills police station on charges of cheating, dowry harassment and criminal intimidation.
Since the charges are serious and non-bailable, the police Sunday night alerted all airports not to allow Shoaib to leave India.
The FIR has been booked under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 498 A also relates to cruelty against married women.
A senior police officer said they were also taking legal opinion on the complaint against Shoaib as it involved a foreigner and the crimes might have been committed by him abroad. The police may also have to take permission from the union home ministry before arresting Shoaib.
Police officers said they would take further action on the complaint only after seeking opinion from legal experts and also after verifying the facts.
In the complaint, Ayesha also told police that Shoaib had warned her to keep mum and was going ahead with his second marriage with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza without her consent and without divorcing her.
In the complaint, filed by Ayesha’s father M.A. Siddiqui on her behalf, she also accused the cricketer of harassment.
She alleged that the Pakistani cricketer had offered her US $1 million to keep mum about their marriage. She also stated that he threatened her to not speak to the media.
Shoaib had Sunday denied marrying Ayesha saying he signed a ‘nikahnama’, or marriage document, for marrying a girl whose photographs she had been sending.
rounak