A day after an FIR was registered against businessman Ness Wadia following a written complaint from actor Preity Zinta that he molested, abused and threatened her inside Wankhede stadium in south Mumbai on May 30, Mumbai police sources said Saturday they would record IPL CEO Sundar Raman’s statement in the case.

The Marine Drive police, meanwhile, began recording statements of other witnesses. The police have also sought CCTV footage from the Garware pavilion in Wankhede stadium to ascertain what transpired between the two co-owners of the IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab that evening.

“We have started our probe. We are recording statements of Wankhede staff and will record Raman’s statement,” said an officer  from Marine Drive police station.

The FIR against Wadia was registered around 12.10 am on Friday at the station. The complaint was registered under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC. 
In her complaint dated June 12, Zinta stated she had known Wadia for the last 10 years and had a relationship with him. It reads, “But for some time, we have ended our relationship. Although we are co-owners of Kings XI Punjab, we are no longer in a relationship and only talk for professional reasons.”

“For some time now, we are not even talking to each other. In between, once or twice, we had heated argument regarding work and during that time he tried to abuse me, and used extremely derogatory language and tried to misbehave in a manner where I was put to shame in front of my colleagues, friends and family. I’ve orally warned him during that time and told him I was not comfortable with such behaviour,” the complaint states.

Zinta alleged Wadia threatened her. “During the match on 30th May, 2014 at Wankhede stadium in the evening, Ness 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,” her complaint alleges.

Explaining why she did not take up the matter earlier, Zinta said she “tried to be very normal and nice to him” as she wanted peace, but the Wankhede incident left her fearing for her life. She claimed she lodged a complaint with BCCI officials, but stayed calm as she did not want to disturb the morale of her team that had qualified for the IPL finals.

Wadia’s publicist Naveen Soni rubbished the allegations. “It is totally false and baseless,” he said.
Sources close to Wadia claimed he was celebrating his birthday on May 30 and had reserved a few seats for himself and his family. On reaching the stadium late, he found the seats were occupied by Zinta and others, which led to arguments between the

Actor and co-owner of Kings XI Punjab Preity Zinta registered a case of molestation late on Thursday night against former boyfriend and industrialist Ness Wadia, who denied the allegation as "false and baseless".

In her statement to the Maharashtra Police, Zinta said the incident happened during the Indian Premier League (IPL) qualifier for the final between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on May 30.

The 39-year-old actor alleged that Wadia not only outraged her modesty but also abused and threatened her. She added that during the match, Wadia came up to her, grabbed her by the hand and started using abusive words in front of other spectators.

Wadia, another co-owner of the Punjab team, said in a statement, "I am shocked at the complaint and the allegations made against me are totally false and baseless."
With the issue snowballing into a major controversy and hogging the headlines, Zinta too issued a statement on Saturday, saying that it was a difficult time for her and that her intention was not to hurt anyone.  She also reportedly requested the media to respect her privacy.

Zinta and Wadia, 44, parted ways after a five-year relationship in 2009, but continued as business partners and co-owners of Kings XI Punjab. They did not cite any specific reason for the break-up.

A case under sections 354, 504 and 506 (assault on a woman, intentional insult and criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered.

An investigating officer said police had started calling witnesses over the issue.

Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria said an "offence has been registered".