Shoaib's passport taken by police

Hyderabad, Apr 5 (PTI)- Investigating a complaint of cheating against him, police today questioned Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, took away his passport and barred him from leaving the country.

A team of police officials visited the posh
Banjara Hills residence of Indian tennis star 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 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 her 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
not nice questions. We would rather get married and be happy
than answer questions about first, second and third marriage."
The tennis start 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 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 decided
whether to file an anticipatory bail application though they
don't apprehend his arrest. PTI SJR
MYR