Tennis star Leander Paes, who is caught up in a child custody battle with his estranged live-in partner Rhea Pillai, has lodged a complaint that a friend of Ms. Pillai threatened him.
Mr. Paes has alleged that on October 14, after he said in court that the reason for estrangement with Ms. Pillai was her alleged affair with former cricketer Atul Sharma, the latter threatened to kill him and his eight-year-old daughter.
A family court in Bandra is hearing the custody case. Mr. Paes claims he was threatened on the court’s premises.
“A complaint has been lodged and investigation is under way,” said a police officer from Bandra police station. A case has been registered against Mr. Sharma under IPC sections 506(2) (criminal intimidation), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
The child, born in 2006, lives with the mother and in May, Mr. Paes moved a family court in Mumbai seeking custody rights. But before moving the court he gave a written complaint to the Mumbai police commissioner claiming that he had received numerous calls from Ms. Pillai, threatening to take their daughter out of India. In June, Ms. Pillai filed a case of domestic violence and harassment against Mr. Paes.
The two petitions are being heard by the family court.
