Mumbai : The Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has defended charges of assault against him and said he acted in self-defence. The actor said he had been hit and verbally abused first during the ugly incident at a five-star hotel on Tuesday night in Mumbai. Yesterday, police registered a case against the actor for allegedly assaulting a South African businessman. Khan was arrested and immediately released on surety bond of 15,000 rupees late last night.

The incident took place when Khan was dining with friends at a restaurant at the Taj Hotel. Police said the businessman, Iqbal Sharma, was treated in hospital for a broken nose.