Uttar Pradesh Ranji cricket team captain Mohammad Kaif on Wednesday night allegedly roughed up a press photographer who tried to take a picture of him when he was coming out of a cinema hall in Chandigarh.
The former India cricketer had just watched the evening show of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Om Shanti Om at Picadilly theatre when the cameraman of a Hindi daily tried to click him.
An angry Kaif allegedly manhandled the photographer and also got into a scuffle with journalists who tried to intervene, eyewitnesses and journalists at the spot said. They said mediapersons then picketed Sector 34 police station where the cinema hall is situated, demanding that a case of assault be registered against the cricketer.
The Test discard is leading the UP Ranji team and staying at a local hotel. Deputy Superintendent of Police K I P Singh met Kaif at his hotel and later told reporters that the police were investigating the incident.
An FIR was, however, not registered in the case, he said. The stand-off between Kaif, who was supported by his team members, and the scribes continued late into the night with the cricketer refusing to tender an apology.
"Whatever damage you (media) wanted to do has already been done," he said.
