Almost four years after actor Preity Zinta filed a complaint against ex-boyfriend and co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab, Ness Wadia, the Mumbai police has filed a chargesheet against the businessman. Wadia has been charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of woman).
According to Mumbai Mirror, the police submitted the 200-page chargesheet on 20 February in the court of the chief metropolitan magistrate. Wadia, who was present, was granted bail on the personal surety of Rs 20,000.
The alleged assault took place, according to Zinta, at the Wankhede Stadium on 30 May, 2014 during a match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings. The two were no longer in a relationship, but Zinta alleged that Wadia had continued to harass her.
The complaint says that when Wadia saw Zinta seated in the Garware Pavilion, he started abusing the team staff over ticket distribution. Zinta changed her seat but Wadia abused her again on the ground in front of her team members. When she tried to move away, he grabbed her hand. Zinta submitted four photographs showing ‘bruise-like’ marks on her right arm.
In August 2014, American national Gene Goodenough, who married Zinta in 2016, emailed his statement to the police. He corroborated Zinta’s claims and said he had intervened when Wadia abused her.
The charge sheet will pave the way for a trial. According to sources in the Marine Drive Police, the statements of all involved as witnesses by both parties have already been recorded.
Wadia had admitted to the altercation but not the abuse.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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