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Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia at an IPL player auction. Photo: AP

Actress Preity Zinta alleges ex-boyfriend Ness Wadia molested and abused her

Leading Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has filed a police complaint alleging that she was molested, abused and threatened by a former boyfriend at an Indian Premier League cricket match.

AFP

Leading Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has filed a police complaint alleging that she was molested, abused and threatened by a former boyfriend at an Indian Premier League cricket match.

Zinta accused businessman Ness Wadia, who co-owns the Kings XI Punjab team with the actress, of abusing her after the pair became involved in an argument while watching their team play the Chennai Super Kings on May 30.

"We received Zinta's complaint on Friday," Mumbai police officer Vijay Mane said.

"She wrote that both of them were sitting together at the Mumbai Wankhede stadium on May 30 when they had an argument over something following which he threatened her, pushed her and used bad language against her."

Zinta issued a statement on Saturday describing it as a "difficult time".

"My intention is not to harm anyone, but only to protect myself," the statement said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

Wadia also issued a media statement expressing "shock" over the complaint against him and declaring the "allegations against me are totally false and baseless".

Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria said an investigation was under way.

"We will be recording the statements of the witnesses," Maria told news channel CNN-IBN.

Police have lodged an initial case based on "outraging the modesty of a woman", intimidation and intentional insult, media reported.

Zinta and Wadia, a member of a family conglomerate with interests including real estate, textiles and a low-budget airline, called off their five-year relationship in 2009, although they continue to be business partners, according to local media.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Actress alleges ex-lover molested her
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