Preity-Ness case: Cops probe mafia threats to Wadia clan

Mumbai: The Mumbai police Crime Branch is probing a complaint about alleged mafia threats to well-known industrialist Nusli Wadia related to a complaint filed against his son Ness by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, officials said here Wednesday.

Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta. Pic: AFP

An aide to the 70-year-old Nusli Wadia Monday received calls and a message purportedly from absconding gangster Ravi Pujari, following which a complaint was lodged with the N.M. Joshi March Police Tuesday.

The message warned the industrialist that his "business will be in trouble" if the actress was harassed.

"Don't run around Preity Zinta. Give my message to Wadia, otherwise his business will be in trouble," said the message to the aide, which was given to police in the complaint.

However, the aide's name has not been revealed by the police, nor the fact whether the phone belonged to him or to a member of the Wadia clan.

The crime branch sleuths are now investigating the genuineness of the caller's claim that he was gangster Pujari or his henchman, and the source of the call.

Bombay Dyeing Group chairman Nusli Wadia is a grandson of M.A. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who lived and worked in Mumbai before Independence.

The fresh twist in the case came barely a week after Preity lodged a complaint last Thursday alleging molestation, abuse and threats, against her former boyfriend and co-owner of her IPL cricket team Kings XI Punjab, with Mumbai police.

However, Ness Wadia said he was "shocked at the complaint and allegations which are totally false and baseless".