`When two of them (witnesses) were contacted, they said they were not the persons listed by Ness Wadia. (But) We do not think that we contacted wrong persons,` said a police officer privy to the investigation.
The list provided by Ness Wadia on July 2 has names of nine witnesses, but their job profiles are not mentioned.
`Just going by names it is not possible to identify them. We are still trying to identify them,` the officer said.
Wadia's letter to investigating officer at Marine Drive Police station, sent on July 2, names following witnesses: Serieka Lal, Loretta Joseph, Pooja Dadlani, Anneline Adams, Farah Oomerbhoy, Sweetie Burman, Kamlesh Shah, Rayaan Mustapha and Sharat Nath.
Preity Zinta has accused Ness Wadia of molesting, abusing and threatening her during the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings on May 30 at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
Police have so far recorded statements of 12 witnesses named by Zinta, seven of whom have been described as `crucial witnesses` by the investigators.
Among those whose statements have been recorded are IPL Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel and COO of Kings XI Punjab Fraser Castellino.
Witnesses Danish Merchant, Jai Kanojia and Parul Khanna have confirmed that Ness Wadia `pulled` Preity Zinta by hand during a `heated` argument, while Castellino said he did not see any fight or argument.
