In what could well turn out to be the end of the road for cricketer Hardik Pandya, he has been hit by a sensational controversy with his alleged connection to the underworld. Along with Pandya, Congress’ heavyweight Rajiv Shukla also seems to be set to witness the end of his long career.
Woman accused Pandya and Shukla of sexual assault:
Rahnuma Bhati, wife of Underworld Don Riyaz Bhati, a close aide to absconding Dawood Ibrahim has accused various high-profile names of sexually assaulting her on numerous occasions. According to her, Riyaz Bhati treated her as a prostitute and sent her to provide sexual services to various business partners, politicians, cricketers and other high profile individuals.
The accusation has created a ruckus in the Indian cricketing circle as Rahnuma has accused Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli’s favourite hitter, Munaf Patel, the former fast bowler and Congressman Rajeev Shukla, a former office-bearer of BCCI for assaulting her.
COMPLAINT COPY EXCLUSIVE‼️ https://t.co/Nj2U9UoA8P pic.twitter.com/o5uWCoDfLx
— Sameet Thakkar (@thakkar_sameet) November 10, 2021
According to a report by ThePrint, Rahnuma has not mentioned any dates or addresses where the alleged sexual assault took place. “I have been trying to get the police to register an FIR, but they aren’t complying. My application was submitted in September, it is already November now. “I have followed up with various levels of police authorities multiple times. I was told to give some money, but why should I spread corruption? I am right in my place. They are the ones who are criminals.”, she was quoted by ThePrint.
Mumbai Police confirmed the report:
Deputy Commissioner of Police for the jurisdiction, Manjunath Singhe acknowledged that an application has been submitted but refused to comment further on the matter claiming that he does not have many details available with him. An officer from the Santacruz police station, where the application is believed to have been submitted informed that they are conducting an enquiry into the matter.
Riyaz Bhati is close to the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. In the years 2015 and 2020, he has been arrested while trying to escape from the country by disobeying the order of the court. For this Riyaz had resorted to a fake passport. In February 2020, he was trying to flee abroad and was caught at the Mumbai airport. Before this, he was arrested at the airport in 2013 as well. Cases are registered against him for land grabbing, cheating, firing and demanding extortion.
Pandya misadventures are going to cost him his career:
Hardik Pandya is not new when it comes to controversies related to perverted sexual behaviours. He has been openly boasting about his sexual misadventures on national television. His undisciplined behaviour coupled with his inflated ego due to his social media marketing team’s presentation of larger-than-life aura of Pandya has resulted in a decline in fitness level which in turn led to his poor performances. Once touted as Kapil Dev’s successor, Pandya has been reduced to a pale shadow of his original self.
Rajiv Shukla-The trouble shooter:
Rajiv Shukla on the other hand is said to be an agony aunt for various celebrities. He is said to be well reached among the ranks of both government and opposition. In his four decades-long career, he has donned many hats. Other than being MP from Congress, he has been a politician, former journalist, political commentator, and the former chairman of the Indian Premier League. Recently like Pandya, his career has also been in decline.
Bollywood and the cricketing world is believed by many to be having deep links with the underworld. Cricketer Azharuddin’s match-fixing scandal was also mired by the alleged involvement of the Underworld. In fact., Sharjah had been the hotbed of fixing and betting during the 1990s. The black money generated by Underworld through fixing and other illegal activities has allegedly been poured into Bollywood cinemas to convert them into white. Finally, the cliff has started to fall. A thorough investigation is needed in the matter to assess the involvement of not just Pandya and Shukla, but also Munaf Patel and Riyaz’s business partners.
