Priti Pathak
NESS Wadia, former boyfriend of Bollywood actress Preity Zinta and famous Industrialist on Wednesday wrote to Mumbai Police listing the names of nine witnesses. Addressing to the police Wadia described as “false” the charges levelled against him by Zinta.
Wadia provided list of persons who were present at the Kings XI v/s Chennai Super Kings match at Wankhede stadium on May 30, 2014. The names of witnesses are: Serieka Lal, Loretta Joseph, Pooja Dadlani, Anneline Adams, Farah Oomerbhoy, Sweetie Burman, Kamlesh Shah, Rayaan Mustapha and Sharat Nath.
However, Marine Drive police have already recorded statements of 11 witnesses, six of whom have been described as “crucial witnesses”. Among those whose statements have been recorded are IPL Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel and COO of Kings XI Punjab Fraser Castellino.
Witnesses Danish Merchant, Jai Kanojia and Parul Khanna have confirmed that Wadia “pulled” Zinta by hand during a “heated” argument between the two on May 30.
Marine Drive Police have registered an FIR against Wadia under IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
“We will examine the relevance of the letter. If required, these witnesses will be called to record their statements. Wadia, meanwhile, is likely to be questioned in the next two days, ” Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) Ravindra Shisve.