Russian tennis ace Sharapova and F1 legend Schumacher booked for fraud in Gurugram; here's why

Following a court order, the Gurugram police have booked former Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher, and 11 others for fraud and criminal conspiracy. The FIR was registered based on a complaint of a woman hailing from Delhi who accused the sporting icons of fraud.

Shafali Agarwal, a resident of Chattarpur Mini Farm in New Delhi, complained that she had booked an apartment in a project named after ex-tennis sensation Maria Sharapova. She said that a tower in the project was named after the 7-time Formula One champion Schumacher. 

The legendary racer suffered a devastating skiing accident in 2013, post which several claims he remains in a vegetative state thanks to the massive head trauma. 

Interestingly, the project was to be finished by 2016, but it never took off as per the complaint. Shefali Agarwal accused the international celebrities of being part of the fraud through their association and promotion of it.

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Earlier, she 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.

The complainant stated before the court that she and her husband booked a residential apartment in the project named after Sharapova in Sector 73, Gurugram. Still, the developer companies cheated them by alluring them to put money into their project which was never meant to be delivered.

"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, Agarwal alleged, adding that the former 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.

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," said Inspector Dinkar, SHO of the police station.

• Tennis
• Formula One