Preity Zinta, who returned to India from the US on Sunday, is likely to record her statement in the Ness Wadia case.

The actress had filed a complaint with the Mumbai police on June 13 against her former boyfriend and industrialist Ness Wadia for public humiliation and abusive behaviour during an Indian Premiere League (IPL) match in Wankhede stadium on May 30. The match was between Chennai Super Kings and Kings X1 Punjab.

IPL COO Sundar Raman, had confirmed Preity’s allegations in a written statement to the Mumbai Police. Another eyewitness, Nimish, too confirmed to Preity’s allegation while talking to Zee News.

On being questioned, Nimish revealed that the altercation did not take place during the match. He further added that there was very less interaction between Preity and Ness; and the row had erupted over the seats. The spat did not occur in his presence and they did not talk much during the match.
The Mumbai Police have so far recorded statements of seven witnesses in relation with the complaint filed by Preity against Wadia. Out of the seven people, five of them have confirmed Preity`s allegations and acknowledged that the incident did take place.

Preity filed a written complaint on June 13, following which an FIR was registered 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 the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman)

The statement given by IPL chief operating officer (COO) Sundar Raman to the police on Thursday may spell trouble for industrialist Ness Wadia, who has been refuting allegations that he molested and abused actor and former girlfriend Preity Zinta.

In his one-hour statement to the police, Raman confirmed that Zinta, the co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, had verbally complained to him regarding Wadia's behaviour.

A police team went to his office at the BCCI headquarters in Churchgate. Wadia, however, has maintained that Zinta's complaint against him is 'false and baseless'.

"In her complaint, Zinta had mentioned that she had complained to Raman immediately after the incident [on May 30]. He confirmed this to us," said Dr Ravindra Shisve, deputy commissioner of police, zone 1.

Zinta said that she brought the matter to Raman's attention twice. In fact, he had even intervened when she and Wadia were having an argument during the IPL auctions in Bangalore and asked them to keep quiet, her complaint said.

The second time was immediately after the May 30 incident that took place during a match between the Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.

While Shisve refused to give any more details, he said the police were only focusing on the alleged incident that took place at Wankhede and not during the auction.

The police have also recorded the statements of six others, including BCCI officials. One of the officials was identified as Ankit Baldi, who was seen with Zinta in a video footage of the match.

"A section of the media had said that the man in the video was Wadia, but Baldi clarified that it was him, explaining the sitting arrangements," a senior officer
said, on condition of anonymity.

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".