The veracity of the ‘Nikahnama' of Ayesha Siddiqui and Shoaib Malik, and whether it was registered with the Wakf Board securing legal sanctity, became the crucial points for investigation as the Hyderabad Detective Department (DD) on Tuesday began a probe into the criminal case registered against the Pakistani cricketer.
Though Ms. Siddiqui, who was questioned by DD officials on Tuesday, reportedly maintained that she would present “incriminating” evidence to establish that Mr. Malik had a “marital relationship” with her and that they had spent time in a Hyderabad star hotel, the police focus is on finding out whether the marriage certificate was issued after completing the formality of the ‘Nikahnama.'
“We're trying to identify the Qazi and other witnesses who had signed the ‘Nikahnama',” an investigator told the police. The police have decided to record their statements and send the ‘Nikahnama' to forensic experts to ascertain the genuineness of the signatures.
“Not registered”
Generally, the Qazi signing the ‘Nikahnama' secures the marriage certificate after registering it with the Wakf Board. Sources in the local Wakf Board maintained that the ‘Nikahnama' in the present case was not registered.
This point assumes significance in the investigation since three sections of the IPC — 420 (cheating), 498-A (cruelty and harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) — were invoked based on the complainant's statement that she was Mr. Malik's legally wed wife.
The investigators collected the original ‘Nikahnama' written in Urdu and Arabic and spoke to Ms. Siddiqui and her family, asking them to produce all material, documentary or photographic, and other evidence.
