Bollywood's Preity Zinta files molestation complaint

One of India's top Bollywood actresses, Preity Zinta, has filed a police complaint alleging that she was molested, abused and threatened by a former boyfriend at an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, officials said Saturday.

Zinta accused businessman Ness Wadia, who co-owns the Kings XI Punjab IPL team with the actress, of abusing her after the pair got into 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 told reporters.

"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," Mane said.

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 said the "allegations against me are totally false and baseless".

Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said an investigation was underway.

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

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

Zinta and Wadia, scion of the Wadia group, an Indian conglomerate with interests including in 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.