Turns and twists continue in Sania-Shoaib marriage saga

In yet another twist to their controversial wedding build-up, Sania Mirza and Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik sought to reschedule their marriage to Friday evening but were forced to push it back to the original date of April 15 due to legal hassles.

The marriage, which was confirmed by the Quazi Azmatullah Jaffri of Dar-Ul-Qazzat earlier in the day, could not be performed as Shoaib reportedly could not submit necessary documents like passport and clearances with regard to closing of the criminal case filed against him.

The Hyderabad police took Shoaib’s passport after Ayesha Siddiqui, a Hyderabad girl whom he allegedly married in 2002, lodged an FIR against him for dumping her after the marriage.

Shoaib, being a foreign national, his passport was deposited in a local court as part of the police procedure.

A close relative of Sania said the marriage would be performed on the morning of April 15 and a grand reception is scheduled in the evening.

Sania’s aunt Hameeda Usman said, “There is no function today. It is scheduled to take place on April 15 according to the original plan.”

Quazi Jaffri earlier said that Friday, being an auspicious day, the nikah will be performed after Magrib prayers (evening prayers) on Friday.

When contacted, Narasimha Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police told PTI that as far as police are concerned, the case is closed but Shoaib has to apply to the court to get back his passport.

A strong media contingent waited outside Sania’s house for most part of the day and new barricade were erected to keep the media at bay.

Close relatives of Sania kept visiting the family. Her father Imran emerged from the house but did not talk to the waiting media men.

Ever since they announced their wedding, the couple had been hounded by the media over Shoaib’s first marriage.

Ayesha had alleged that Shoaib married her over phone before dumping her without a divorce due to her weight problems.

Shoaib initially denied the allegations and claimed that Ayesha duped him into a phone marriage by sending photographs of a different woman. The all-rounder, however, finally agreed to divorce her after being pressurized by community leaders.

Ayesha had filed an FIR against Shoaib alleging fraud and criminal intimidation, which led to the cricketer’s passport being confiscated by the police.

The FIRs have been withdrawn after Shoaib agreed to divorce Ayesha.

Sania marriage may be put off

The marriage of Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza slated for April 15 is likely to be postponed with the controversy surrounding his earlier nikah getting murkier.

Friends and relatives are persuading the Mirza family to defer the marriage if the police investigation into the alleged marriage of Shoaib and Ayesha Siddiqui of the city is not over before April 15.

However, Mrs Naseema Mirza, mother of Sania, said the wedding would be held as scheduled.

Though relatives and friends of the Mirza family have advised them to put off the marriage until the din is over, they are continuing with the distribution of wedding invitation cards.

An advocate, Mr Srinivas Rao, lodged a police complaint demanding that all awards given to her be taken back.

The Women Development Front and the legal wing of All India Forward Block have extended their support to Ayesha Siddiqui.

“We will move the SHRC seeking directions to stop the proposed marriage,” said Ms Siraj Shareen Khan of WDF.

Ms Yasmin Abrar, member of the NCW said the online complaint on the issue would be forwarded to all members.

Ms Renuka Reddy, former member of AP State Women’s Commission, also said it would be better if the Shoaib-Sania wedding takes place only after all doubts were cleared.

The couple, meanwhile, took a break from the controversy, and went on a drive in the city late on Monday. They were spotted with friends having ice cream at a parlour in Jubilee Hills.

Police finds proof on Shoaib

The city police has found enough prima facie evidence to arrest Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik in the cheating and harassment case filed by his alleged wife, Ms Ayesha Siddiqui, but is yet to take a decision on affecting the arrest.

Police officers are in consultation with the state government which in turn is seeking the opinion of the Union ministries of home and external affairs before taking the next steps.

Highly placed sources said the officers are discussing the pros and cons as well as the legal implications of arresting the cricketer who is slated to marry tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15.

Earlier, the police had transferred the Shoaib-Ayesha investigation to the detective department of the Central Crime Station (CCS) after questioning both of them. While Shoaib restated his innocence, Ms Ayesha said she had undergone an abortion.

Police who grilled the Pakistani cricketer at the Jubilee Hills residence of tennis star Sania Mirza in crime number 391/2010 also seized his passport.

Sania was sitting near Shoaib during the one-and-a-half hour grilling. Shoaib told the police that Ms Ayesha’s family had duped him.

The additional commissioner of police (co-ordination), Mr D. Tirumala Rao, said, “Shoaib’s passport was seized for investigation. It has not been impounded.

CCS police will send the nikahnama furnished by Ms Ayesha to the AP Forensic Science Laboratory to verify the genuineness of Shoaib’s signature.

The APFSL was closed on Monday. The lab director, Mr O.N. Murthy said, “We can finalise the report in three to four days.”

Police also recorded the statement of Ms Ayesha Siddiqui at her residence. She told them that she had an intimate relationship with Shoaib and had to undergo abortion.

In the FIR, the police has named Shoaib as A-1. None of his family members has been named.

All the case documents have been handed over to the CCS, said the Banjara Hills assistant commissioner of police, Mr R. Ravinder Reddy, who lead the team that grilled Shoaib.

The additional commissioner of police (crimes), Mr Narasimha Reddy, is now monitoring the case.