Accompanied by his bride-to-be, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, he spoke to the media outside her residence here and declared that they would marry April 15 as scheduled.
“I am here for my marriage and to clear my name. I will clear my name and am cooperating with the police and Indian government. I will do everything,” Shoaib told reporters here in a press conference.
Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of apologizing.
He also challenged Ayesha Siddiqui to come before the media, adding the world would know the truth once she comes out.
“I have never met the girl whose photographs were sent to me. I don’t know who is Ayesha. I used to call her (the girl who is claiming to be his first wife) Maha Apa and Apa means elder sister,” Shoaib said.
“I am here, why doesn’t she come before the camera, and I will answer all the questions.”
The cricketer admitted that police had taken away his passport after the questioning Monday morning but was confident that he would get it back by the evening.
“Nobody can touch me till charges against me are proved,” he said when asked if he fears arrest.
He said the Pakistani high commissioner in India spoke to him and assured him full assistance in clearing his name.
Mirza said she was upset over the allegations but claimed she knew the truth. “Our marriage will take place on April 15. There is no question of postponing it,” she said.
“We are representing our countries in different ways, and it is very painful to speak on such matters,” Mirza said.
Shoaib also termed Ayesha’s allegations “a cheap publicity gimmick”.
To questions by reporters that Ayesha alleged she had got pregnant after her “marriage” with Shoaib and had had a “miscarriage”, Shoaib said: “Let her first prove it, and then let’s probe it.”
Police earlier on Monday seized Shoaib’s passport after quizzing him for nearly two hours at his fiancee’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.
— With input from agencies
