Police grill Shoaib on Ayesha marriage, seize passport

Hyderabad/New Delhi, April 5 : Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who is to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, was Monday grilled by police here and his passport was seized on a complaint of cheating filed by a Hyderabad resident who claims to be his first wife.Police quizzed Shoaib for nearly two hours at Sania Mirza's home and seized his passport for investigations a day after booking a case of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation against him on complaint of Ayesha Siddiqui. The Central Crime Station (CCS) of police launched the probe by questioning Shoaib, recording statement of Ayesha and identifying 10 to 15 witnesses. Police, who have alerted immigration authorities not to allow Shoaib to fly out of the country, also conveyed the details of the case to the central government while the cricketer claimed that the Pakistani high commissioner in New Delhi spoke to him over phone and assured all possible legal assistance. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Monday evening, "If it becomes necessary to arrest somebody we will arrest. But it will be based on how the case evolves and what sort of evidences we come across." Accompanied by Sania Mirza, Shoaib, former captain of Pakistan cricket team, spoke to media persons outside her residence here and both declared they would marry here April 15 as scheduled. "I am here for my marriage and to clear my name. I will, Inshallah, clear my name and am cooperating with the police and the Indian government. I will do everything," Shoaib told reporters here. Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of his apologising to anybody. He also challenged Ayesha to come before the media, adding the world would know the truth once she comes out of the house. "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." "Nobody can touch me till charges against me are proved," he said when asked if he feared arrest. A tense-looking Sania said she was upset over the allegations but claimed she knew the truth. "Our marriage will, Inshallah, take place on April 15. There is no question of postponing it," she said. To questions by reporters that Ayesha alleged she had got pregnant after her "marriage" with him and had a "miscarriage", Shoaib said: "Let her first prove it, and then let's probe it." In New Delhi, Shoaib's lawyer Ramesh Gupta said Malik had told him not to file for anticipatory bail since he was cooperating with the Hyderabad police.
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Government Advises Caution to workers Seeking jobs in Malaysia

(PIB NEWS) It has come to the notice of the government that a large number of workers misguided by some unscrupulous Indian as well as Malaysian Recruiting Agents (RAs) are emigrating to Malaysia without proper documentation about their employment, foreign employer and employment contract etc. As a result such Indian workers become vulnerable to exploitation by their employers in Malaysia and often get stranded in Malaysia without work and then lodge complaints in the Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur. Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur has formulated guidelines for Indian workers who want to take up legal employment in Malaysia. The Indian workers intending to seek legal employment in Malaysia should get themselves familiarized with the laws and working conditions in Malaysia. These guidelines are available on the website www.mohr.gov.my. The Indian workers planning to take up legal employment in Malaysia, should take the following steps, on arrival in Malaysia: (i) Obtain a resident permit or identity card and a labour card immediately, (ii) Keep their passports in safe custody and not part with their travel document, (i.e., passport) and employment contract signed by them in India,(iii) At least, a copy of the passport should always be carried by them at all times, (iv) They should not sign another employment contract or any blank paper during his/her stay in Malaysia,
(v) In case of loss of passport or copy of the employment contract, a report may be lodged with the Indian High Commission immediately,
(vi) They should get themselves apprised about the working conditions in Malaysia,(vii) They should note that strike by workers in Malaysia is an illegal act under Malaysian Law.
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PM-paying at samadhi babu jagjivan ram,

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 103rd Birth Anniversary, at Samta Sthal, in Delhi on April 05, 2010.    (Photo by PIB No:CNR-31092)
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Achievements of Maulana Azad Education Foundation during 2009-10

(PIB NEWS) Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, provided scholarships to 15,070 meritorious girl students belonging to Minority communities during 2009-10. Under this scheme it spent an amount of Rs. 18.08 crore. Under the Grants-in-aid to NGOs, MAEF sanctioned Rs. 13.37 crore to 105 NGOs during the last fiscal ending on 31st March 2010. MAEF, established in 1989, is a voluntary, non-political, non-profit making Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. Union Minister for Minority Affairs is the ex-officio President of the Foundation.The schemes of the MAEF are mainly of two types, viz.; Grants-in-aid to NGOs for construction and expansion of schools/hostels, technical/vocational training centres with emphasis on girl students; and Scholarships to Meritorious Girl Students from the Minorities.
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Andhra Pradesh CM calls for strengthening Indo-Australian ties

Hyderabad, Apr 5: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today underlined the need to strengthen the Indo-Australian ties in different spheres.He also stressed the need to clear the air about the safety of Indian students in Australia in view of the recent attacks on them, at an interaction with an Australian delegation sponsored by Mr DSN Murthy, Managing Director and CEO, Dhanush Infotech, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.The team has been touring India to build better bilateral relationship in areas such as education, business, trade, culture, sports etc. The delegation was led by Mr Rajendra Nimje, former IAS officer who had worked as Secretary of Higher Education in Andhra Pradesh government. He said bilateral delegations and discussions would help improve the ties. Dr Rosaiah was speaking to the Australian delegation which met him today.The Chief Minister said both Hyderabad and Australian cities could cooperate in areas like IT, BT, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Mining, Irrigation, and Water Resources. Both sides agreed to pursue next level of consultation in these areas by sending an Andhra Pradesh Business Delegation to Australia.A proposal has been put forth to establish a Sister City relationship between Hyderabad and two Australian cities of Brisbane and Ipswich which share great commonalities and are planning to enhance cooperation and business ties. (photo by etemaad)
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BJP forms fact-finding team to probe old city riots

Hyderabad, Apr 5 : The BJP today announced that it has constituted a Fact-Finding Team (FFT) to probe the cause for last week's riots in the old city of Hyderabad, and the handling of the situation after the riots by police and the administration.According to a press release here, BJP National Official spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman, holding AIMIM squarely responsible for riots, alleged that the ruling Congress government was completely bullied by their ally AIMIM. The government was ''turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by the AIMIM''.''Even during the curfew, AIMIM legislators are moving about freely. The media has reported that in the vicinity of the murder site, one MLA of the MIM was present. The Hyderabad MP belonging to the AIMIM, in blatant violation of the curfew rules, was staging a dharna in front of the police and was not arrested,'' she claimed.Criticising the Congress party on its failure to ''prevent the violence and restore peace in the affected areas'', Ms Sitharaman said, ''even today, several areas are under curfew. The failure of the government in not arresting those who knifed innocent citizens till today speaks volumes about their commitment to the law of the land.''
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Day curfew lifted in riot-hit old city

Hyderabad, Apr 5 : The indefinite curfew clamped in the old city of Hyderabad in the wake of killing of two people since March 27 was lifted for nine hours from 0800 hrs today, providing the much-needed relief to the common man.With normalcy returning to the city after posting of nearly 30 companies of central para-military forces, besides state police personnel, including the elite OCTOPUS personnel, the authorities decided to lift curfew during day time. ''If the present situation continued, curfew could be lifted fully in a couple of days,'' Additional Commissioner of Police (Coordination) Ch D.Tirumala Rao told mediapersons. Mr Rao warned that ''if the situation takes a bad turn, we will have no option but to reimpose curfew''.As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders were promulgated in the entire city. Police also urged political party leaders not to organise any processions or 'dharnas' as the same might prove detrimental to peace. Police also banned pillion riding on two-wheelers by adult men from 2300 hrs to 0600 hrs to avoid any trouble by miscreants. Indefinite curfew was first imposed in 17 police station limits of South Zone on March 29 and extended to eight more police station limits in West, Central and East zones as violence spread to these zones.Police had so far arrested 165 people in connection with 152 cases between March 27 and March 31, while another 100 people were let off after taking them into preventive custody. No breakthrough had been achieved into the murder cases so far.
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Ayesha was pregnant, had miscarriage: Family

Cricketer Shoaib Malik and tennis star Sania Mirza’s marriage saga got murkier Monday as Hyderabad resident Ayesha Siddique’s family claimed she was not only married to the former Pakistan team skipper, but also got pregnant and suffered a miscarriage.While Shoaib has denied marriage with Ayesha, the latter’s family claimed that they lived as man and wife.“She was pregnant and had a miscarriage. Shoaib knew about it but did not bother,” Shams Babar, a family friend of Ayesha, told reporters outside her house in Banjara Hills.He along with Ayesha’s lawyer also alleged that the Pakistani cricketer physically and mentally abused her. They declined to answer queries saying this would be proved in the court of law.A day after Shoaib, in his statement, denied meeting Ayesha, Babar said the two had met 14 times. “We have solid proof to nail Shoaib,” Babar said.“I am warning Shoaib not to make it worse by prolonging it. He should admit it and make a public apology like a good man and give divorce to Ayesha,” he said.

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Women’s commission approached in Ayesha-Shoaib case

An online complaint has been registered with the National Commission of Women (NCW) urging the women’s rights panel to take action in the controversy surrounding Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik’s alleged marriage to Ayesha Siddiqui.Acting on the basis of media reports, Naresh Kadiyan, a social activist from Haryana, has registered a complaint on Ayesha’s behalf that the girl had been subjected to cruelty and harassed for dowry.An NCW complaint cell official said: “Suitable action will be taken in this case only once a competent authority like a member approves the case. There will be a probe after that only. ”Ayesha, who claims to be Malik’s wife, Sunday lodged a police complaint in Hyderabad against him for cheating her after it was announced that he planned to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza April 15.Ayesha complained that Shoaib was warning her to keep mum and was going ahead with his second marriage with Mirza without divorcing her. Ayesha filed the complaint under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.“We registered the complaint online yesterday (Sunday). I spoke to the designated counsellor. He appears to be on leave but has assured me that action will be taken at the earliest, within three weeks, since the case has come in the media eye,” Kadiyan, who heads non-government organisation People for Animals Haryana, said.Kadiyan said he did not know Ayesha or her family.“I don’t know the girl. I just wanted that if it is a case of harassment then the issue should be probed and action taken. Let police verify if there is any truth in what she (Ayesha) says. If yes we will support her, else we will withdraw support,” he added.
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Will not leave India till my name is cleared: Shoaib

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik Monday said he would not leave India till his name is cleared in the controversy surrounding his alleged first marriage to a city  girl. Accompanied by his bride-to-be, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, he spoke to media persons 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 Inshaallah clear my name and am cooperating with the police and Indian government. I will do everything,” Shoaib told reporters here in a chaotic press conference.Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of apologising.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.A tense-looking Sania said she was upset over the allegations but claimed she knew the truth. “Our marriage will Inshallah 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,” Sania 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.”
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