Saw Ness Wadia grabbing Preity`s arm, says witness

Mumbai: A common friend of industrialist Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta Thursday told the police he saw the former grabbing the Bollywood actor`s arm on May 30 but could not hear their conversation, as recording of statement of witnesses continued in the criminal complaint filed by her.

Jai Kanojia is the latest witness to record his statement in the June 12 complaint of Zinta, who has accused Wadia, her former boyfriend, of abusing and threatening her during an IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium here on May 30. The 44-year-old industrialist, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab along with Zinta (39), has dismissed her charges as false and baseless. "The statement of Jai Kanojia was today recorded and some more witnesses will be called in the next few days," said a senior police official privy to the investigation. "In his statement, Kanojia, who was in Garware pavilion with the two, stated he saw Ness grabbing Preity`s arm but could not hear their conversation due to the noise of spectators during the match." With this, investigators have so far recorded the statements of nine witnesses, including Indian Premier League COO Sundar Raman and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel, in connection with the case. Marine Drive Police 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). Crime Branch, on the other hand, is probing the threat phone calls and a text message received by two personal secretaries of Wadia Group on June 16 from a man claiming to be the fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari. The caller warned that their "business will be in trouble" if the actress is harassed.