IPL molestation row: US woman won't pursue defamation case against Siddhartha Mallya

New Delhi: Zohal Hameed, the US national who has alleged that Royal Challengers Bangalore player Luke Pomersbach molested her at a five-star hotel in Delhi on Thursday last, has reportedly decided that she won't pursue her defamation complaint against the IPL franchise director, Siddhartha Mallya.

In response to Ms Hameed's allegations, Mr Mallya had tweeted on Friday, "The girl who is accusing Luke is saying he hit her 'fiance'...what a load of fX#$%g s#$t. She was all over me last night and asked for me bbm pin, so if he was her fiance she wasn't exactly behaving like a future wife."

Following this, Ms Hameed lodged a complaint against Mr Mallya with the Delhi Commission for Women. A defamation notice was later sent to him. Ms Hameed had also demanded an unconditional apology from Mr Mallya for his remarks.

Mr Mallya had also said on twitter, "If Luke is in the wrong, then trust me he will face the necessary sanctions. But what this girl is doing is idiotic."

When asked to explain his statements, Mr Mallya told NDTV that he was not questioning her character, he was "simply explaining the facts", and that his tweets were not derogatory. "I have nothing to apologize for," he said. He also said that he had not spoken to Mr Pomersbach. "I will do everything I can do defend my player," he said.

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Ms Hameed says that she was with her fiance at a party when they met the cricketer. She says the player later insisted on having a drink with her and her fiance and "tagged along" as they went back to their hotel room. When they refused and she tried to leave the hotel suite, she says the cricketer tried to grab her. When her fiance stepped in, the cricketer allegedly punched him.

Mr Pomersbach was arrested on Friday morning by the Delhi Police but was granted bail. Ms Hameed has not withdrawn her complaint him.

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