The beleaguered Shoaib Malik will not file an anticipatory bail application in the case lodged by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his wife, as both the families today geared up for a legal battle in a much publicised marriage row which showed no immediate signs of a settlement.
The former Pakistan captain also has no intentions of filing a defamation suit against Ayesha as of now and his brother-in-law Imran Malik made it clear that the marriage with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will go ahead as scheduled on April 15.
After the dramatic developments in the last few days which has cast a shadow on the impending marriage of the two celebrities, Imran flew in to Delhi this morning to chalk out the future course of action with his lawyer.
While there was no fresh legal hassles for Shoaib, who is currently in Hyderabad to clear his name in the ongoing marriage row, the Police are yet to hand over the Pakistani cricketer's passport which they had taken for verification following an FIR lodged by the Siddiqui family.
"We are not moving any anticipatory bail applications as Malik is cooperating with the police in the investigation. However, we may go for quashing of the FIR afterwards," Imran said at a press conference.
Shoaib's lawyer Ramesh Gupta said a representation has been submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Hyderabad and they are hopeful to get his passport back soon.
"Shoaib's passport is lying with the police and the commissioner told us that it has not been seized but they just need it for verification. Shoaib is any way here till his (April 15) marriage and we hope they would probably keep a photocopy and return the passport," Gupta said.
In Hyderabad, the spotlight shifted on Ayesha with a police team visiting her residence for questioning as part of the enquiry.
Imran was bombarded with questions on Shoaib's alleged 'nikahnama', their earlier visits to Hyderabad and future course of action.
Asked how could Shoaib sign a 'nikahnama', invalid or not, without having seen the girl, Imran said, "Had Shoaib not made the blunder, this situation would not have arisen."
Asked how they plan to go about the job of defending Shoaib, Imran said, "See, this is not such a complicated thing that you need a strategy. Some people are just trying to make it look so complicated."
