Preity Zinta gives photos of bruised hand to police to back assault claim

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has submitted four photographs to Mumbai Police showing bruises on her hand to back her claim of criminal assault against her former boyfriend Ness Wadia even as the industrialist shared with investigators the contact details of witnesses he wants examined, police said on Wednesday.

"These four photographs, which show bruises on Zinta's hand, were received by us today. We are examining the photographs, which will be crucial pieces of evidence in the case," said a police officer involved in the probe.

Meanwhile, the Wadia group on Wednesday wrote to Marine Drive Police giving details of the witnesses whose statements they want to be recorded in connection with the case. "We had contact details of a few of the nine witnesses whose names had been shared with us by Wadia on July 2. Today we received contact details of the rest from the Wadias," the officer said.

Wadia's letter to the investigating officer at Marine Drive Police station sent on July 2 had names of Serieka Lal, Loretta Joseph, Pooja Dadlani, Anneline Adams, Farah Oomerbhoy, Sweetie Burman, Kamlesh Shah, Rayaan Mustapha and Sharat Nath as witnesses.

Contact details of the witnesses were sent to the police after they faced difficulty in locating them only on the basis of their names.

In her complaint to police on June 12, Zinta had accused Wadia of molesting, abusing and threatening her during an IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings on May 30 at Wankhede stadium. Wadia and Zinta continue to co-own Kings XI Punjab team despite their estrangement.

Zinta had alleged that Wadia yelled at her and abused her before "grabbing my arm and pulling me". The photos were apparently given to the police to substantiate the charge. Wadia has denied allegations against him as "false".

Marine Drive Police had 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).

Police have so far recorded statements of 12 witnesses named by Zinta including IPL's Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel and COO of Kings XI Punjab Fraser Castellino.