06/04/2010
Hyderabad: As events around the wedding between Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and tennis ace Sania Mirza get murkier by the day, the Indian sports icon's family was "keeping all options open", including postponing the wedding, indicated a close family friend.
Andhra Cricket Association's former secretary V. Chamundeswaranath, a close friend of Sania's family, told reporters late Monday that "while no decision was taken to postpone the marriage, the family was keeping all options open".
Chamundeswaranath has been regularly visiting the Mirza family ever since Shoaib arrived here Friday for his wedding scheduled for April 15.
With Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib's first wife, launching a legal fight to prove her claim and the police not ruling out the Pakistani cricketer's arrest, the two families are seriously considering delaying the marriage, it is learnt.
Police Monday grilled Shoaib at Sania's house after booking a criminal case of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation against him following a complaint by Ayesha, who is also a resident of this city.
Though both Shoaib and Sania, during their interaction with the media Monday, asserted that the marriage would take place April 15, the family is visibly worried over the impact the controversy may have on the celebrations.
Sania was tense and irritated while answering media queries Monday. "Of course I am upset but we are happy that we are together and we are happy that we are getting married, Inshallah. We want to remember this as a happy occasion in our life and not as bad thing or negative thing," she said.
Shoaib may be arrested
Police officers, who took away Shoaib's passport, said he may be questioned again and may also be arrested on the basis of evidence they may come across during the course of investigations.
Shoaib may move for anticipatory bail
Meanwhile, Pakistani cricketer does not want to tarnish the image of the girl whom he had taken to be Ayesha Siddiqui by releasing her photographs in public, his lawyer said here Monday. The Pakistani cricketer is likely to move for anticipatory bail to play it safe , though his lawyer says he has been instructed to wait and watch.
'Shoaib has specifically told me not to disclose the photographs of the girl as it will harm her image,' senior advocate Ramesh Gupta told IANS.
The cricketer approached the 60-year-old New Delhi-based Gupta, who has appeared in high-profile cases like the BMW hit-and-run case and the Rahul Mahajan drug overdose case, to represent him.
'I have talked to Shoaib and he said that he is cooperating with police and that there was no need as yet to move anticipatory bail application,' he said.
Passport impounded
Ten days before he is scheduled to get married to Sania Mirza, Shoaib Malik found himself in further trouble with the Hyderabad police impounding his passport to prevent him from leaving India, saying it was done in cases where people were considered a flight risk.
Acting on a complaint of cheating, criminal intimidation and dowry harassment filed by the family of Ayesha Siddiqui. Restrictions may be imposed on Shoaib's movements as his visa category does not require it otherwise.
Hours later, Sania and Shoaib made a joint appearance before the media, with the tennis star saying they both belonged to "respectable families" and it pained them "to see my future husband like this (answering questions about marriage)". Shoaib said he was confident of clearing his name and getting married.
I will clear my name: Shoaib
"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'm ready to face any type of questions," he said.
Repeating that he had been "emotionally blackmailed" by Ayesha, he asked why she was not appearing in public.
Urging the media to leave the issue to the courts, Sania questioned the "nikahnama", saying: "If there was no 'nikah', it cannot be proved. If the court proves, then he will do whatever is required."
Cops to unravel the truth
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said they had received a complaint and were acting on it. "Our job is to unravel the truth and place it before the court. It is not for us to worry about the effect it will have on the lives of the people concerned."
He added that though the three charges registered against Shoaib were cognisable in nature -- allowing the police to arrest him without the permission of a court in case of prima facie evidence -- the Hyderabad police had refrained from doing so. The impounding of the passport was a compensatory action indicating some prima facie evidence, the police said.
"If there is an apprehension he may leave the country, we can seize the passport. We have acted on this basis," said Stephen Raveendra, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the west division of Hyderabad.
Documents supporting Ayesha's claim
The police said they had a copy of the "nikahnama" being distributed by the Siddiqui family. It indicated that they had also been handed over copies of hotel stay receipts and photos of Shoaib and Ayesha together.
With the Siddiquis now also claiming that Ayesha had "physical intimacy" with Shoaib and had even suffered a "miscarriage", the cricketer said: "I just want to ask something... Where is she? Ten years back I was 18 years old. Find out her age."
Asked whether they had offered money to sort out the issue, Shoaib said: "Why one million? Say one billion."
Are these questions to be asked before marriage?
Interjecting, an agitated Sania said: "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 the police investigate... We would rather get married and be happy than answer questions about first, second and third marriage."
Sania said she and her family had complete faith in Shoaib. "He and my family have known the truth all along. At no point did he keep us in the dark."
Pak Govt bats for Shoaib
While Shoaib has hired a Delhi-based lawyer, Ramesh Gupta, to defend him, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in Islamabad that the government would extend Shoaib all assistance.
"I have asked the High Commissioner to India to contact India's Foreign Ministry and get information about the nature of the FIR and what is in it," Qureshi told reporters. "He is one of our renowned players and we are proud of him... We greet him on his decision (to marry Sania) and we are praying for him. We hope God will allow him to set up his home happily."
Advocate Gupta admitted to the existence of a "nikahnama (contract of marriage)", but added: "No question of divorce arises when the marriage itself is illegal because, as per Islamic law, the identity of the bride and bridegroom have to be disclosed at the time of nikah."
Earlier in the day, the cricketer insisted he was innocent and would not leave India until he was cleared of charges of marrying Ayesha that emerged soon after the announcement of his April 15 marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.
Shoaib has rejected Ayesha's demand for a divorce, saying he signed a 'nikahnama' or marriage document for marrying a girl whose photographs he had been sent.
Legal action against Ayesha
Gupta said that any legal action against Ayesha would be decided Tuesday when Malik's brother-in-law Imran Zafar arrives in Delhi. He confirmed that the cricketer's passport has been seized by Hyderabad police.
'We have served a legal notice on Ayesha's family in 2008 as well but did not pursue it further as everything went on smoothly but now when so much hype is created, we will definitely find a suitable legal remedy,' Gupta said.
Ayesha Sunday lodged a police complaint in Hyderabad against Shoaib for cheating her and going ahead with his second marriage with Sania without divorcing her. She filed the complaint under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A case of mistaken identity
Questioning the basis of the case lodged by the police, Gupta said: 'If the marriage had taken place, only then would section 498 A be applicable. But in this case, it is a perfect case of mistaken identity.'
The lawyer further added that if the marriage between Ayesha and Shoaib took place, then how could a case of cheating be lodged.
'At this stage, when both parties (Ayesha and Shoaib) are issuing contrasting statements, nothing can be said, but a compromise formula can always be worked out,' Gupta said.
The Siddiquis claim that Shoaib married their daughter Ayesha in 2002, but has not divorced her till date.
The Hyderabad-based family had also produced pictures of Shoaib-Ayesha's nikahnama (marriage certificate) which states that their marriage was solemnised on June 3, 2002.
Shoaib, on the other hand, has denied being married to Ayesha. He, however, admitted to talking to a girl named Ayesha over the telephone, but said he has never seen or met the girl.
'Even if they did so, it is not legally binding on my client's part. I have consulted a few Muslim priests and obtained documents from them which also substantiate our claims of the marriage being illegal,' Gupta said.
Agencies
PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 15:51:09
Call off the marriage, Sania dear. You don't deserve to be married to a scheming double crosser that this Pakistani appears to be. I know you are in love with him and I sympathize with you. But sometimes the mind must lead the heart if lasting happiness is to be sought for. Best wishes, anyway.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3784484&page=0
Hyderabad: As events around the wedding between Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and tennis ace Sania Mirza get murkier by the day, the Indian sports icon's family was "keeping all options open", including postponing the wedding, indicated a close family friend.
Andhra Cricket Association's former secretary V. Chamundeswaranath, a close friend of Sania's family, told reporters late Monday that "while no decision was taken to postpone the marriage, the family was keeping all options open".
Chamundeswaranath has been regularly visiting the Mirza family ever since Shoaib arrived here Friday for his wedding scheduled for April 15.
With Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib's first wife, launching a legal fight to prove her claim and the police not ruling out the Pakistani cricketer's arrest, the two families are seriously considering delaying the marriage, it is learnt.
Police Monday grilled Shoaib at Sania's house after booking a criminal case of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation against him following a complaint by Ayesha, who is also a resident of this city.
Though both Shoaib and Sania, during their interaction with the media Monday, asserted that the marriage would take place April 15, the family is visibly worried over the impact the controversy may have on the celebrations.
Sania was tense and irritated while answering media queries Monday. "Of course I am upset but we are happy that we are together and we are happy that we are getting married, Inshallah. We want to remember this as a happy occasion in our life and not as bad thing or negative thing," she said.
Shoaib may be arrested
Police officers, who took away Shoaib's passport, said he may be questioned again and may also be arrested on the basis of evidence they may come across during the course of investigations.
Shoaib may move for anticipatory bail
Meanwhile, Pakistani cricketer does not want to tarnish the image of the girl whom he had taken to be Ayesha Siddiqui by releasing her photographs in public, his lawyer said here Monday. The Pakistani cricketer is likely to move for anticipatory bail to play it safe , though his lawyer says he has been instructed to wait and watch.
'Shoaib has specifically told me not to disclose the photographs of the girl as it will harm her image,' senior advocate Ramesh Gupta told IANS.
The cricketer approached the 60-year-old New Delhi-based Gupta, who has appeared in high-profile cases like the BMW hit-and-run case and the Rahul Mahajan drug overdose case, to represent him.
'I have talked to Shoaib and he said that he is cooperating with police and that there was no need as yet to move anticipatory bail application,' he said.
Passport impounded
Ten days before he is scheduled to get married to Sania Mirza, Shoaib Malik found himself in further trouble with the Hyderabad police impounding his passport to prevent him from leaving India, saying it was done in cases where people were considered a flight risk.
Acting on a complaint of cheating, criminal intimidation and dowry harassment filed by the family of Ayesha Siddiqui. Restrictions may be imposed on Shoaib's movements as his visa category does not require it otherwise.
Hours later, Sania and Shoaib made a joint appearance before the media, with the tennis star saying they both belonged to "respectable families" and it pained them "to see my future husband like this (answering questions about marriage)". Shoaib said he was confident of clearing his name and getting married.
I will clear my name: Shoaib
"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'm ready to face any type of questions," he said.
Repeating that he had been "emotionally blackmailed" by Ayesha, he asked why she was not appearing in public.
Urging the media to leave the issue to the courts, Sania questioned the "nikahnama", saying: "If there was no 'nikah', it cannot be proved. If the court proves, then he will do whatever is required."
Cops to unravel the truth
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said they had received a complaint and were acting on it. "Our job is to unravel the truth and place it before the court. It is not for us to worry about the effect it will have on the lives of the people concerned."
He added that though the three charges registered against Shoaib were cognisable in nature -- allowing the police to arrest him without the permission of a court in case of prima facie evidence -- the Hyderabad police had refrained from doing so. The impounding of the passport was a compensatory action indicating some prima facie evidence, the police said.
"If there is an apprehension he may leave the country, we can seize the passport. We have acted on this basis," said Stephen Raveendra, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the west division of Hyderabad.
Documents supporting Ayesha's claim
The police said they had a copy of the "nikahnama" being distributed by the Siddiqui family. It indicated that they had also been handed over copies of hotel stay receipts and photos of Shoaib and Ayesha together.
With the Siddiquis now also claiming that Ayesha had "physical intimacy" with Shoaib and had even suffered a "miscarriage", the cricketer said: "I just want to ask something... Where is she? Ten years back I was 18 years old. Find out her age."
Asked whether they had offered money to sort out the issue, Shoaib said: "Why one million? Say one billion."
Are these questions to be asked before marriage?
Interjecting, an agitated Sania said: "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 the police investigate... We would rather get married and be happy than answer questions about first, second and third marriage."
Sania said she and her family had complete faith in Shoaib. "He and my family have known the truth all along. At no point did he keep us in the dark."
Pak Govt bats for Shoaib
While Shoaib has hired a Delhi-based lawyer, Ramesh Gupta, to defend him, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in Islamabad that the government would extend Shoaib all assistance.
"I have asked the High Commissioner to India to contact India's Foreign Ministry and get information about the nature of the FIR and what is in it," Qureshi told reporters. "He is one of our renowned players and we are proud of him... We greet him on his decision (to marry Sania) and we are praying for him. We hope God will allow him to set up his home happily."
Advocate Gupta admitted to the existence of a "nikahnama (contract of marriage)", but added: "No question of divorce arises when the marriage itself is illegal because, as per Islamic law, the identity of the bride and bridegroom have to be disclosed at the time of nikah."
Earlier in the day, the cricketer insisted he was innocent and would not leave India until he was cleared of charges of marrying Ayesha that emerged soon after the announcement of his April 15 marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.
Shoaib has rejected Ayesha's demand for a divorce, saying he signed a 'nikahnama' or marriage document for marrying a girl whose photographs he had been sent.
Legal action against Ayesha
Gupta said that any legal action against Ayesha would be decided Tuesday when Malik's brother-in-law Imran Zafar arrives in Delhi. He confirmed that the cricketer's passport has been seized by Hyderabad police.
'We have served a legal notice on Ayesha's family in 2008 as well but did not pursue it further as everything went on smoothly but now when so much hype is created, we will definitely find a suitable legal remedy,' Gupta said.
Ayesha Sunday lodged a police complaint in Hyderabad against Shoaib for cheating her and going ahead with his second marriage with Sania without divorcing her. She filed the complaint under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A case of mistaken identity
Questioning the basis of the case lodged by the police, Gupta said: 'If the marriage had taken place, only then would section 498 A be applicable. But in this case, it is a perfect case of mistaken identity.'
The lawyer further added that if the marriage between Ayesha and Shoaib took place, then how could a case of cheating be lodged.
'At this stage, when both parties (Ayesha and Shoaib) are issuing contrasting statements, nothing can be said, but a compromise formula can always be worked out,' Gupta said.
The Siddiquis claim that Shoaib married their daughter Ayesha in 2002, but has not divorced her till date.
The Hyderabad-based family had also produced pictures of Shoaib-Ayesha's nikahnama (marriage certificate) which states that their marriage was solemnised on June 3, 2002.
Shoaib, on the other hand, has denied being married to Ayesha. He, however, admitted to talking to a girl named Ayesha over the telephone, but said he has never seen or met the girl.
'Even if they did so, it is not legally binding on my client's part. I have consulted a few Muslim priests and obtained documents from them which also substantiate our claims of the marriage being illegal,' Gupta said.
Agencies
PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 15:51:09
Call off the marriage, Sania dear. You don't deserve to be married to a scheming double crosser that this Pakistani appears to be. I know you are in love with him and I sympathize with you. But sometimes the mind must lead the heart if lasting happiness is to be sought for. Best wishes, anyway.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3784484&page=0
No comments:
Post a Comment