NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered an FIR against Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova after a luxury housing project buyer in Gurugram filed a complaint that the project, endorsed by her, has not seen the light of day.
The court of chief metropolitan magistrate in North West Delhi has named Sharapova in the complaint list along with companies Homestead Infrastructure Development Private Limited, Homestead Infrastructure Maintenance Private Limited and Homestead Arabic Homes Private and its directors.
A Moneycontrol report says the complaint was filed by a homebuyer, Bhawana Agarwal who claimed that the builders attracted buyers by advertising the project as ‘Ballet by Sharapova’.
The project, according to the complainant, was to be completed within three years from the first payment in 2013, however no construction or development work was started even after three years from the date of the booking in 2013. The complainant also alleged that the developers did not have the necessary approval, permissions or sanctions to start the project and it was premeditated conspiracy to collect money from innocent buyers.
Acting on the complaint, the court ruled that a police investigation is required “to unearth the real facts as to whether the company has taken any steps to handover the possession of the flat to the complainant.”
Sharapova, five-time Grand Slam champion, had returned to action in April 2017 after serving a 15-month ban following a failed drug test from the 2016 Australian Open. Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had faced a similar charge in 2016 when homebuyers alleged delays in the completion of a housing project of the Amrapali Group he was endorsing.
Dhoni had been brand ambassador for the company for six years but was forced to quit after the allegations.
