Preity Zinta IPL molestation case: Chargesheet filed against Ness Wadia after four years

It is publicly known that once- a-happy couple Bollywood actress Preity Zinta and her industrialist boyfriend Ness Wadia broke up amid news of abuse and heartbreak.

Now, after four years of Mumbai Policeregistering a case of molestation and intimidation against Ness Wadia on a complaintbyPreity Zinta, the city police Tuesday filed a charge sheet in the Esplanade court.

As reported by a leading daily, a senior official confirmed thatthe charge sheet was filed against Wadia under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.

This is in reference to an incident that happened on May 30, 2014 atWankhede Stadium during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match. In June 2014, Zintalodged a complaint with the Marine Drive police station in south Mumbai while the two wereco-owners of Kings XI Punjab IPL team.

The court had then released Wadia on a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

Soon after the complaint, Zinta wrote a long post on Facebook saying that "neither money nor publicity was the motive behind filing the complaint".

When she gave her statement to the police that same month, she also revealed that Wadia abused the team staff over ticket distribution when she was seated below the air-conditioned box in the Garware Pavilion.

According to the post: Zinta asked him to calm down as their team was winning. However, he abused her and molested her by grabbing her arm, she told the police. In pursuance of her case, the actor had even submitted four photographs, which showed ‘bruise-like’ marks on her right arm, to the police. She had claimed the ‘injury marks’ were caused when Wadia allegedly grabbed her with force. The photographs were reportedly clicked by a friend. In July that year, Wadia had shared the names of nine people who he claimed were present at the stadium and requested the police to record their statements.

In May 2016, Wadia gave a statement denying allallegations levelled against him.

As perthe published report, a senior official said: “In his statement, Wadia had claimed that as co-owners of Kings XI Punjab, both he and Zinta were entitled to 15 seats. On May 30, their team was playing against Chennai Super Kings and since it was his birthday, he had decided to celebrate it with his family and friends and had even bought 35 extra tickets. Also, for the first time since he bought a stake in the IPL team, his mother Maureen had agreed to join him to watch the match. However, the front row seats were occupied by Zinta and her friends."

“Wadia adds that he first requested Kings XI Chief Operating Officer (COO) Fraser Castellino and then Zinta to vacate the seats. However, the actress refused, which led to bickering between the two. He denied the allegation of molestation and intimidation pressed by the actress,” added the official.