Former Tennis Star Maria Sharapova, Schumacher Booked In Gurgaon. Here Is Why

The FIR was registered on the complaint of a Delhi woman, who accused them of fraud.

Former Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova (Getty Images)

New Delhi: Former tennis star Maria Sharapova and former Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher were booked by Gurgaon Police for fraud and criminal conspiracy following a court order, PTI reported.

Along with them, 11 others were also booked. The FIR was registered on the complaint of a Delhi woman, who accused them of fraud.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 34 (common intention), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC at the Badshahpur police station.

"As per the court order, the FIR has been registered and we are reviewing the matter. The probe is on," PTI quoted Inspector Dinkar, SHO of the police station, as saying.

Shafali Agarwal, a resident of Chattarpur Mini Farm in New Delhi, complained that she had booked an apartment in a project named after Sharapova, PTI reported. 

"A tower in the project was named after Schumacher. The project was to be completed by 2016 but never took off," PTI quoted Agarwal as saying.

In her complaint, the woman accused Sharapova and Schumacher of being part of the fraud through their association with it.

Agarwal had filed a complaint in a Gurugram court against M/S Realtech Development and Infrastructure (INDIA) Pvt. Ltd, other developers, Sharapova and Schumacher for duping her of around Rs 80 lakh.

Agarwal stated before the court that she and her husband booked a residential apartment in the project named after Sharapova in Sector 73, Gurugram. 

However, the developer companies never delivered the apartment depsite alluring them to put money into their project.

"We came to know about the project through advertisements and reached out to the company management after pictures of the project and a lot of false promises were made," she said in the complaint.

"Sharapova and Schumacher as promoters of the project conspired with the buyers," PTI quoted Agarwal as saying in the complaint.

She further alleged that the former Russian tennis star had visited the site and promised the opening of a tennis academy and sports store.

"It was mentioned in the brochure that she is promoting the project, and she also made false promises, had dinner parties with the buyers, and all this was done for the project, which never took off," read the complaint.

(With PTI inputs)