WTA: Sharapova under suspicion of fraud

Maria Sharapova is said to have invested in a dubious construction project for luxury apartments that has never been completed. Now the Indian police are investigating.

So the holiday mood can be thoroughly spoiled: From joyful leaps in the Hawaiian sand into the mills of justice – for Maria Sharapova the “off-season” not only holds carefree days ready for Maria Sharapova.

The 30-year-old Russian is suspected of fraud in India. Sharapova is said to have financially supported an unfinished building project for luxury apartments in a suburb of New Delhi – although several million dollars had already been collected for it, according to a statement by the police.

The former number one in the world was on site in 2012 to promote the luxury complex “Ballet” with a tennis academy, a clubhouse and a helicopter landing field for potential buyers.

“Sharapova was quoted on the project’s website as saying,”The owners should feel like they have something very special and different. Accordingly, the tennis star had acted as public representative of the real estate company for the plaintiffs and was therefore also legally responsible, explained lawyer Piyush Singh, stating:”No one would have invested in the project had their name not been above it”.

So far neither Maria Sharapova nor the contractors have commented on the case.