AP Govt not to take back gifts from Sania Mirza

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government made it clear that it does not intend to take back any reward or land given to Sania Mirza just because she is marrying Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. Advocate Srinivas Rao had, on Tuesday, filed a complaint with the Banjara Hills police station, claiming Sania`s April 15 marriage with the Pakistani cricketer amounted to treason and demanded that all awards and rewards given to her by the government of India be taken back. Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Minister for Sports and IT, however said there is no question of taking back any gift given to Sania."The state government is proud to have a player of international stature from Hyderabad. We will continue to patronage and support her as long as she plays for the country," Reddy told reporters. Rao, an advocate in Andhra Pradesh High Court, had contended in his complaint that Sania earned crores of rupees while playing tennis as an Indian player and her act of marrying a Pakistani amounted to sedition."She received all awards and rewards from the tax payers` money. If she goes ahead with her marriage to a Pakistani, the government should take back whatever was presented to her," Rao had said. PTI