Police at Sania's residence to quiz Shoaib

Police today reached the residence of tennis star Sania Mirza apparently to question Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in the wake of a cheating case lodged against him by the father of Ayesha, the Hyderabad girl who claims to be his wife.

In fresh trouble for 28-year-old Shoaib, who is scheduled to get married to 23-year-old Sania here on April 15, the Hyderabad Police have alerted the immigration authorities about the criminal complaint, a move that could pose difficulties for Shoaib to leave the country.

There was no immediate official word on why the police have gone to the Mirza residence.

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, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said.

Ayesha's father Mohammad Siddiqui 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.

Shoaib, who landed here on Saturday, admitted to his 'nikah' with Ayesha but claimed the marriage was invalid. Shoaib accused Ayesha of cheating him as he believed the girl he was marrying was the one in the photographs sent to him by her.

Khan said an FIR has been made out and it would be followed by collection of evidence and taking legal advice since Shoaib is a Pakistani national.

"The Banjara Hills police have received a complaint by Ayesha Siddiqui against Shoaib Malik. We have registered a case against Shoaib. Now we will take legal opinion quickly before taking further action," Additional Commissioner of Police (Co-ordination), Dwarka Thirumala Rao said.

He said there were some legal complications involved in the case and they "will have to examine whether a foreigner committing an offence on a foreign soil comes under the purview of IPC or not".

"The legal opinion will be taken quickly and we will proceed further as the marriage is on April 15," he added.

Khan said yesterday that an FIR has been made out and it would be followed by collection of evidence and taking legal advice since Shoaib is a Pakistani national.

"The Banjara Hills police have received a complaint by Ayesha Siddiqui against Shoaib Malik. We have registered a case against Shoaib. Now we will take legal opinion quickly before taking further action," Additional Commissioner of Police (Co-ordination), Dwarka Thirumala Rao had said.

He said there were some legal complications involved in the case and they "will have to examine whether a foreigner committing an offence on a foreign soil comes under the purview of IPC or not".

"The legal opinion will be taken quickly and we will proceed further as the marriage is on April 15," he added.