The National Commission for Women (NCW) has decided to take suo motu cognisance of the allegations of Bollywood actress Preity Zinta against her former boyfriend and businessman Ness Wadia, and will conduct a detailed investigation into the case.
“We will take cognisance of Preity Zinta’s case and conduct a detailed investigation into the matter on our own,” NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said in New Delhi on Saturday.
“I have got to know through media reports that Preity used to live with Ness Wadia until 2009. But it doesn’t matter. If Wadia did something wrong as Zinta is alleging, then we will proceed as per the findings of our investigation,” Sharma said.
The 39-year-old actress, who jointly owns Kings XI Punjab IPL cricket team with Wadia, filed a complaint on Thursday against Wadia alleging that he molested, abused and threatened her inside Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai on May 30.
Expressing her disapproval, senior Congress leader Shobha Ojha said that it was not important with whom violence was committed, instead it was important who was committing it.
“There is need to change the mindset of men. We have to give rights to women similar to men. If this mindset is not changed, such incidents will happen even to celebrities and other women working in high posts,” Ojha said.
As the case came under an intense media spotlight, Zinta said her intention was “not to harm anyone but only to protect myself” and requested privacy.
The actress and the businessman broke off their five-year relationship in 2009.
Registering the complaint, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said they were “trying to collect evidence like the statements of those involved and CCTV footage.”
Questioning the “delay” in taking action in the case, Maharashtra State Women’s Rights Commission has given the city police a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest Wadia.
Chitra Wagh, a member of the state’s Women’s Rights Commission, who visited Marine Drive police station to inquire about the progress of the investigation on Saturday, said: ““We have served a 24-hour ultimatum to Mumbai Police to arrest Ness Wadia.
“This is a sensitive case and the police have taken no action more than 24 hours after the complaint was filed. The incident happened in a public place. Police have assured us they will record the statements of witnesses and examine CCTV footage over the next few hours and take action within 24 hours,” she said.
