Cops seize Shoaib's passport after two-hour grilling

Hyderabad: Police Monday seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer 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.

Pakistan to assist Shoaib Malik

Pakistan on Monday said it will extend all assistance to former cricket captain Shoaib Malik, who has been slapped with cheating and harassment charges in India by Ayesha Siddiqui who claims to be his wife, days ahead of his planned wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.

The Pakistan government said it was in touch with Indian authorities in connection with the police complaint filed against Malik by the Indian woman. Malik is currently in Hyderabad and his passport has been siezed after an FIR was registered against him.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told the media that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was in contact with Indian authorities and had asked them to share information on the First Information Report filed against Malik in Hyderabad.

Pakistani authorities have "to wait till all the details of the FIR are with us," Basit said. The Indian government had not yet shared details of the FIR with Pakistani officials, he said. "We will give Shoaib Malik all the assistance he requires. We will proceed in the best interests of Shoaib Malik," Basit said.

The case was filed against Malik 10 days before his planned wedding with Mirza. Malik recently announced that he would wed Sania on April 15. Malik recently travelled to Hyderabad after Ayesha's reiterated her claims that she had married the cricketer in 2002

Indian police today questioned Malik in Hyderabad and had taken away his passport. The 28-year-old Shoaib told a police team this morning at the Hyderabad residence of 23-year-old Sania that he had been tricked into a marriage with Ayesha.

Shoaib's family considers changing travel plans

Alarmed by the development in Hyderabad where Shoaib Malik had his passport seized by the police, his family is now considering altering plans to travel to India on Wednesday to attend the Pakistani cricketer's marriage with Sania Mirza.

A close relative of Shoaib's family said that they have contacted senior Pakistani government officials and the high commission in New Delhi for help and was considering changing their travel plans.

"Certain forces in India have become active to stop this marriage at any cost," the relative alleged.

Shoaib, set to marry Sania on April 15 in Hyderabad, was today grilled by Hyderabad police after MA Siddiqui, father of Ayesha who claims to be the cricketer's wife, lodged a complaint, accusing the cricketer of cheating his daughter.

Source: Agencies

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