Actress Preity Zinta's case against former boyfriend and industrialist, Ness Wadia, was dimissed by the Bombay High Court after the two parties settled outside court. The actress had filed a case against Wadia for verbally abusing her, and molesting her during an Indian Premier League match in 2014.
The Mumbai police had filed a chargesheet in the case earlier this year under the sections 354 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to reports, the case dates back to a match of Kings XI Punjab, then owned by Zinta and Wadia. The two were attending the match, when Wadia got into a fracas and loudly abused the offiicials of the Kings XI team. Zinta, who was also present at the event, tried to calm the industrialist, who was her then-boyfriend. However, Wadia reportedly abused Zinta and even tried to pull her away.
Wadia had earlier approached the court seeking to quash the case, suggesting it was 'merely a misunderstanding.'
The actress had earlier alleged that Wadia "intimidated me by saying that he could make me disappear as I was a nobody and only an actress and he's a powerful person". Wadia had denied these allegations.
Two days earlier, the court had asked both Zinta and Wadia to consider settling the case outside court. While Zinta's legal team had asked for a written apology, Wadia had denied it.
Both the parties had appeared before a bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharti Dangre on Wednesday (10 October). The hearing was reportedly dismissed after lawyers of both parties announced that their clients had reached an amicable settlement. According to Hindustan Times, a daily, Zinta also submitted an affidavit confirming her willingness.
Speaking with PTI, a news agency, Wadia's lawyer, Aabad Ponda said, "The case against Ness has been quashed. We have been told by the court not to divulge anything more."
Zinta is currently awaiting the release of her film, Bhaiaji Superhit, which will be released on 19 October.