Andhra HC orders return of Shoaib's passport

Hyderabad, Apr 19: In a major relief to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday, Apr 19 has ordered the release of his passport following the city police's' appeal for closure of a cheating case filed against him by his now divorced wife Ayesha Siddiqui.

Justice C V Nagarjuna directed a Nampally Criminal Court to the effect, after the High Court was informed by the Advocate General D V Sitaram Murthy about the police's appeal seeking the closure of the case against Malik before a magistrate.

Shoaib's passport was taken away by the police on Apr 15 based on a criminal complaint filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, whom he later divorced after initial denial of his marriage with Ayesha.

The passport was submitted to the Thirteenth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate after asking Shoaib not to leave the country.

Following Shoaib's divorce with Ayesha, her family submitted an application to the Central Crime Station (CCS) - a wing of Hyderabad police which investigated the case, to withdraw the complain against him.

On Apr 15, Shoaib approached the High Court, seeking the release of his passport on the ground that he had arrived at a consensus with Ayesha and was she willing to withdraw the case against him.

Shoaib Malik was married to tennis ace, Sania Mirza on Apr 12.

OneIndia News