Former Indian cricketer Manoj Prabhakar, actress wife booked by ex-wife

Manoj Prabhakar in a file photo

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Manoj Prabhakar and his actress wife Farheen were booked in a criminal case by the Delhi Police on Thursday on the basis of an FIR lodged by London-based NRI, Sandhya Prabhakar, first wife of the ex-cricket star. In her FIR lodged with Malviya Nagar police station, Sandhya alleged that Prabhakar, backed by a few top politicians, connived with police officers and fraudulently sold off her flat in south Delhi. When Sandhya tried to approach the couple, she was threatened with dire consequences by Farheen.

The first wife, Sandhya, who is three years elder to Prabhakar, alleged that his second wife Farheen (eight years younger to the cricketer) demanded Rs 1.50 crore to return the property. In her FIR, registered under sections 420/468/471/120-B-34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sandhya has accused Prabhakar of hatching a conspiracy with Farheen and a few aides to grab her property. Police sources said that though it appears to be a family dispute but an enquiry into the sequence of events have revealed that Farheen had been eyeing the property.

Farheen, known for her 'Madhuri Dixit looks', started her career with Tamil and Kannada films but her charm brought her to Mumbai film industry. After screening a few Hindi films, Farheen finally left Bollywood to marry Prabhakar, after his relations with Sandhya soured.

The FIR was lodged on October 17, though the incident came to light on October 1 when Sandhya's complaint relating to her flat, locked by Prabhakar and Farheen, was received by the police reportedly on the instructions of a senior Delhi Police officer.

In her FIR, Sandhya revealed that second floor flat 7/18, in Sarvpriya Vihar was bought by her second husband, Lakshmi Chand Pandit (now deceased) in 1995. All the documents in the purchase of the said flat were duly registered in the name of Lakshmi Chand. Sandhya lived on the premises till 2006 and then the flat was used by her brother and a friend till August 2018. Afterwards, the family used the flat on and off.

Sandhya alleged that in July 2019, she came to know from her brother that Prabhakar's men had unlocked the flat and occupied it. Incidentally, Prabhakar and his second wife, along with two sons, live on the first floor of the same apartment.

The police said that investigation into the case had been launched and statements of the former cricketer and his second wife would be recorded. IANS sought to take the version of Prabhakar but the former cricketer could not be reached till Friday evening.

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