Ex-cricketer who allegedly threatened Leander Paes gets court relief

MUMBAI: Former cricketer Atul Sharma, booked for allegedly threatening tennis star Leander Paes who is locked in a legal battle with his estranged live-in partner Rhea Pillai, was today granted interim protection from arrest after he approached a local court for anticipatory bail.

Sharma, a friend of Pillai, moved the Sessions Court with an anticipatory bail application in connection with the case registered against him last month. The interim protection provided to him will be effective till November 27.

"Sharma has filed a pre-arrest bail application and the court has granted him interim protection till November 27," said Public Prosecutor Iqbal Solkar.

Police on October 16 had registered a case against Sharma following a complaint by the 41-year-old tennis legend alleging that Sharma had issued death threats to him and his minor daughter in family court premises in suburban Bandra.

The ex-cricketer was booked under IPC sections 506(2) (criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

In his complaint, the Olympian bronze medallist claimed the incident happened when he had gone to the court in connection with the ongoing dispute between him and Pillai.

According to police, Sharma was furious at Paes as the latter had submitted evidence in court that indicated the former cricketer had been in "illicit" relationship with Pillai, a model.