‘I was punched by Bollywood actor’

JUSTICE will prevail, say a Joburg businessman and his wife, who claim they were assaulted by Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his father-inlaw at a Mumbai hotel in February.

Although it has been more than two months since Khan, businessman Shakeel Ladak and producer Bilal Amrohi were booked for assaulting SA businessman Iqbal Meer Sharma at a five-star restaurant, the Colaba police are yet to file a charge sheet, according to the Times of India.

Sharma, a former directorgeneral in the Department of Trade and Industry, alleged Khan had called him an idiot before punching him in the face and breaking his nose at the Taj Hotel.

He was having dinner with his wife and in-laws at the hotel’s Wasabi Restaurant when the fight broke out.

Sharma had complained Khan and his dinner guests were too rowdy and asked them to be quieter. He denied Indian media reports that his Sa-born Bollywood actress wife, Tarina Patel, said both parties were looking for an out-of-court set- tlement. Tarina Patel this week told the Tribune Herald they were regularly in touch with the police in India.

“Yes, it takes time, but the procedure is thorough. The medical report needs to be very detailed, and there is a long waiting list. We are not concerned with the time frame at all – we know that the charge sheet will be filed,” she said.

“Justice will prevail and we have every faith in that.”

Investigating officer Inspector RV Hawel told the Times of India the police were still investigating all the charges.

“Our investigation is not yet complete, so there is no question of filing a charge sheet. We are calling eyewitnesses who were present in the restaurant and are recording their statements. It is a sensitive case and we have to cross-check and verify all accounts,” he said.

On February 23, the Colaba police arrested Khan, Ladak and Amrohi for allegedly assaulting Sharma and his 69year-old father-in-law at the Wasabi restaurant.

According to reports, Khan later levelled counter allegations against Sharma with the police, but he had no evidence of injuries.