Bhupathi backs Paes

India's tennis legend Leander Paes, who is engaged in a bitter court battle with his partner Rhea Pillai for the custody of their eight-year - old daughter Aiyana, has received support from a very unlikely quarter. Paes’s former doubles partner, Mahesh Bhupathi, with whom he had a bitter falling out, has come out and spoken in favour of Paes, claiming he could “never get abusive or violent.” Paes recently filed a petition in the Bandra Family Court seeking the custody of his daughter from Rhea, citing reasons ranging from irresponsibility to infidelity. Rhea had told a daily that she was “abused and threatened” and that she feels “unsafe and insecure” in her house.