After Dhoni, Tennis star Maria Sharapova in dock for endorsing Gurgaon reality project; FIR filed

In what may proved to be a setback for Russian Tennis star Maria Sharapova, an FIR has been lodged by Delhi High Court against her.

According to the reports of TOI, the tennis star landed her name in a luxury housing project that never took off.

The complaint was filed by one of the luxury housing project buyers in Gurgaon publicised in the name of tennis star and scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Bhawana Agarwal (44), who hails from Gurgaon, filed the complaint against Maria with the help of her lawyer Piyush Singh in a Delhi court against Homestead Infrastructure Development, Homestead Infrastructure Maintenance, Homestead Arabic Homes, the company directors and Sharapova.

The court stated, “If the averments of the complainant are to be believed, it shows that nothing has happened on the said project and alleged persons have no licence or sanction for construction or development at the project, for which the complainant paid Rs 53.03 lakh.”

“Sharapova not only aggressively promoted the fraudulent activities of the accused, but also supported the project in the eyes of the general public and is, therefore, a part of this criminal conspiracy,” the complainant said.

“If the alleged persons have no licence or sanction to raise the residential flats in the name of 'Ace by Sharapova', Sector 73, Gurgaon, and accepted Rs 53 lakh to book a flat of unit area of 2,500 sqft, then they have undoubtedly committed criminal offence," the court said, directing the SHO concerned to register an FIR under relevant sections and to investigate "all angles".

Advocate Singh told TOI, "Once the court issues an order, the police has to register the FIR. Sharapova had come down to India two-three times in 2013 to meet prospective buyers. More than 1,500 people have invested in this project, but the project still has not seen the light of the day."

Last year, Indian former captain was trolled by homebuyers of Amrapali for the delays in the housing project.