Sania gets relief, mosque to withdraw complaint

Sania landed in trouble when she appeared in the ad shoot on Dec 10 in the premises of the mosque 8216;without permission8217;.

In a relief to tennis star Sania Mirza, the authorities of the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad have decided to withdraw the complaint against her for shooting a commercial in the mosque premises, six days after she tendered an 8216;unqualified apology8217; for hurting religious sentiments.

8220;They mosque authorities have sent a letter to us expressing readiness to withdraw the complaint against her. But we sought certain clarifications from them,8221; B Reddenna, Assistant Commissioner of Police Charminar division, said.

He, however, declined to divulge the clarifications sought by the police.

Sania landed in trouble when she appeared in the shooting for a commercial on December 10, said to be commissioned by a media house, in the premises of the 17th century mosque 8216;without permission8217;.

The shooting triggered angry protests from Muslim organisations which said the tennis star had hurt their sentiments.

The Minority Welfare Department of Andhra Pradesh, which is the custodian of the historic mosque, had filed a complaint with the police that the crew did not take permission from authorities for the shoot of the commercial.

The police had registered a case of trespass against Sania and the ad agency that shot the commercial.

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Seeking to end the row, Sania had tendered an 8216;unqualified apology8217; to the mosque authorities for hurting the sentiments of people.

8220;I would like to apologise to all my brothers and sisters and respected elders who are anguished by my unwittingly entering a portion of the land belonging to Mecca Masjid,8221; she said in a letter to the Imam of the Mosque.

Earlier too, Sania had found herself in trouble over her dress while playing matches, with certain sections raising objections. She had also triggered a controversy by coming out in support of South Indian actress Khushboo over her remarks on pre-marital sex.