Nigella Lawson’s husband, Charles Saatchi, photographs showing Nigella Lawson husband Charles Saatchi with his hand on her throat is being studied by Scotland Yard, according to published reports.

Scotland Yard is studying Nigella Lawson’s husband, Charles Saatchi, photographs to “to establish the facts” of an apparent violent argument between the popular British television chef Nigella Lawson and her husband Charles Saatchi at a public place where he put his hand around her throat.

Photographs of Nigella Lawson and her husband, the multi-millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi, were shot as they sat at a table outside the England’s famous Scott’s seafood restaurant in Mayfair eight days ago while Saatchi was celebrating his 70th birthday. The photo series seems to have captured a bitter argument that left Lawson in tears.

The pictures were published by the Sunday People. The photographs showed the former advertising guru putting his hand around the TV chef’s neck four times. One picture shows Saatch raising a second hand towards her throat. Another picture seems to show him attempting to grip or pinch her nose.

The photographs were published on the Sunday tabloid’s front page. Twitter comments immediately sprung up. Luciana Berger of the Labour party tweeted: “A man reportedly grasps a woman’s neck 4 times in public & no one intervenes, incl. photographer who took photos.”

The staff at Saatchi’s firm said Saatchi was not expected at the modern art gallery that has his name. A new exhibition will be launched at the gallery today.

The British Metropolitan Police said in a statement that they received no complaints about the incident. They were investigating it because of the newspaper article. Scotland Yard said, “Officers from the Community Safety Unit at Westminster are aware of the Sunday People article. Enquiries are in hand to establish the facts of the incident.”

The couple was married nine years ago after Lawson’s first husband, the journalist John Diamond, died.

A witness to the argument told the Sunday People: “It was utterly shocking to watch... It was horrific really. She was very tearful and was constantly dabbing her eyes. Nigella was very, very upset.”