Two of the witnesses listed by industrialist Ness Wadia whose statements he wants to be recorded in the molestation case filed by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta against him, were not cooperating, while the rest were yet to be identified and contacted, according to police.
“When two of them (witnesses) were contacted, they said they were not the persons listed by Wadia. (But) We do not think that we contacted wrong persons,” said a police officer privy to the investigation.
The list provided by Wadia on July 2 has names of nine witnesses, but their job profiles are not mentioned.
“Just going by names it is not possible to identify them. We are still trying to identify them,” the officer said.
Wadia’s letter to investigating officer at Marine Drive Police station, sent on July 2, names following witnesses: Serieka Lal, Loretta Joseph, Pooja Dadlani, Anneline Adams, Farah Oomerbhoy, Sweetie Burman, Kamlesh Shah, Rayaan Mustapha and Sharat Nath.
Zinta has accused Wadia of molesting, abusing and threatening her during the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings on May 30 at Wankhede stadium here.
Police have so far recorded statements of 12 witnesses named by Zinta, seven of whom have been described as “crucial witnesses” by the investigators.
Among those whose statements have been recorded are IPL Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel and COO of Kings XI Punjab Fraser Castellino.
Witnesses Danish Merchant, Jai Kanojia and Parul Khanna have confirmed that Wadia “pulled” Zinta by hand during a “heated” argument, while Castellino said he did not see any fight or argument.