Preity Zinta

Mumbai, July 2: Preity Zinta today put out another Facebook post and Ness Wadia rustled up witnesses as lawyers from both sides worked on the nuances of an out-of-court settlement.

Preity has accused Ness, the son of Bombay Dyeing owner Nusli Wadia, of “outraging her modesty” on May 30 during an IPL match at the Wankhede stadium.

“The details of the settlement are being drafted and redrafted by both sides. So far there have been nine drafts. In the latest draft Preity sent late on Tuesday night to Ness, she has made a series of specific demands,” said a source close to the actress.

“She has insisted that Ness should give up his stake in Kings XI Punjab where the two are co-owners. Her second demand is that he should not be allowed to be present at team meetings and that he should give up his position as one of the directors of KXIP,” he added.

The Wadias have rejected her demands and decided to fight the case in court. “The family has decided that if she does not get reasonable, they would fight the case in court,” said a friend of Ness.

Preity posted on Facebook that her police complaint was not of a “frivolous or immature” nature. She claimed that far from Ness paying for her KXIP stake as claimed by her detractors, it was she who had loaned him Rs 5 crore to buy the shares. He later repaid without a “premium”, she said.

“This is not a frivolous or immature complaint to the police…. I am a responsible citizen… and my only fault is that I am a woman, who reached a breaking point, after constantly being abused, threatened & humiliated at work by someone who once was very dear to me….

“My only motive is to fight for my self and this fight is not against any family but an individual,” her post said.

The actress clarified that the alleged molestation had not come after a fight over seats. “Fight for SEATS — Really? 50 seats and a V.I.P air-conditioned box (35 seater) was there, yet me and my friends sitting on 6 seats becomes an issue? …taking over seats at all games is a completely wrong accusation and disrespecting anyone’s mother is OUT OF THE QUESTION as I might forget my name but never my manners.”

As for why she had reported a personal matter to the police, she wrote: “PERSONAL MATTER? Seriously? For the record, this relationship was ended by me in 2009… it’s been 6 years since the break-up so THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL MATTER.”

She quashed accusations that she had made the complaint for publicity. “I have been… part of the biggest blockbusters in the past…. I don’t need publicity, specially cheap publicity.”

Hours later, Ness sent a letter to Mumbai police listing names of nine witnesses he wanted questioned in the case. In his letter, Ness termed Preity’s allegations false.

The Wadias are expected to furnish a list with names of more witnesses soon. Ness can be questioned only after all witnesses from both sides have recorded their statement.

The current list of Ness’s witnesses includes, among others, Dabur Group’s V.C. Burman’s wife Sweety — a close relative of KXIP co-owner and Ness’s friend, Mohit Burman.