Actor Preity Zinta has been asked by the Mumbai police to appear in person within a week and share her account of how ex-boyfriend Ness Wadia allegedly molested and abused her.
Ms. Zinta, 39, is traveling abroad. Her lawyer, Hitesh Jain, clarified to, “We have not mentioned sexual molestation or even the word ‘molestation’ in the FIR.”
On Friday, Ms. Zinta filed a police case against Mr. Wadia, a 44-year-old businessman, with whom she co-owns the Chandigarh franchise of the Indian Premier League. She alleged that at a match involving their team at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on May 30, Mr. Wadia “intimidated me by saying he could make me disappear as I was a nobody and only an actress and he’s a powerful person…this afore-stated incident in Mumbai in the Wankhede Stadium has left me shattered and fear for my life.”
Mr. Wadia has refuted the charges. “I am shocked at the complaint and the allegations made against me are totally false and baseless,” he said in a statement released on Saturday.
The charges against Mr. Wadia in the police case registered against him include criminal intimidation and assault intended to “outrage a woman’s modesty.” The police says that by allegedly grabbing Ms. Zinta’s arm without her consent. Mr. Wadia’s action amounts to molestation under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code.
The actress and the businessman dated for five years before ending their relationship.
The police has recorded the testimony of two alleged witnesses who saw the fight between the high-profile couple.
Sources say investigators will ask the actor to furnish emails exchanged between her and Mr Wadia which allegedly could offer more details on the case.
