Hyderabad- Tennis star Sania Mirza's family has attracted the ire of Muslims in connection with zakat (donations) during Ramzan, reports DNA.
Around 3,000 Muslims, mostly women, gathered outside Mirza's house in Hyderabad on Monday morning after news spread that the family would donate up to Rs1,000 per person as zakat.
Chaos ensued when there was no sign of the tennis star for hours. The Mirzas had to call in the police to control the crowd.
Family sources said the Mirzas distribute zakat every year to 300-400 poor Muslims in the locality. The plan was the same this year and word was sent out to residents in the adjoining areas.
However, news also spread to other places in the city, resulting in more than the required numbers landing at the Mirza residence.
Puzzled by the huge turnout, the Mirzas did not distribute money which led to further pandemonium.
People travelled from far-off places on bikes and rickshaws for the money.
"We spent Rs300 to come here and now, nobody is distributing the money. We were told we will get Rs1,000 as zakat. At least someone should have told us that they won't distribute the money. Instead, we saw people laughing at us from the balcony," Rasheed, one of the people stranded outside Mirza's house, told DNA.
Ironically, Sania is oblivious to the controversy since she is playing tennis in Dubai.
