Shoaib Malik after quizzing him for nearly two hours at his fiancee
Sania Mirza's home in connection with a complaint filed against him by
Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his first wife.
Shoaib was unhappy that his passport had been seized and said he would
complain to the Pakistan High Commission, police sources said. He was
questioned at the Jubilee Hills home of his bride-to-be and Indian
tennis star Sania Mirza.
The Pakistan mission has reportedly sought details of the first
information report (FIR) registered by Hyderabad police against
Shoaib. Assistant Commissioner of Police R. Ravinder Reddy told
reporters after the questioning that the case was under investigation
but refused to answer any queries.
Another team of police officials recorded Ayesha's statement at her
residence in Banjara Hills. She handed over the 'nikahnama', or
marriage document, which has been sent to the forensic laboratory to
verify Shoaib's signature.
Police posed several questions to Ayesha and her parents regarding her
complaint. She reportedly gave details of Shoaib's stay in Hyderabad
during his visits after the marriage. Ravinder Reddy along with
Banjara Hills police inspector Iqbal Siddiqui reached Sania's
residence around 9.30 a.m. to question him and left after nearly two
hours.
Shoaib, who landed here Friday, has been staying at Sania's house in
preparation for their April 15 wedding. Following a complaint by
Ayesha, a FIR was registered Monday at the 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 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 the Indian tennis star 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 $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' for marrying a girl whose photographs she had been
sending.
