Jiah Khan suicide case: Trial court defers cases against Suraj Pancholi to July 21

Mumbai – A year after actress Jiah Khan’s death, the sessions court on Wednesday adjourned to July 21, the proceedings against Suraj Pancholi, son of actor Aditya Pancholi, accused of abetment to suicide. Suraj and his father were present in court. Jiah, an American citizen was found hanging dead in her Juhu home last June.

The court was scheduled to frame charges against Suraj Pancholi but advocate Shrikant Shivade informed the court that a plea made by Jiah’s mother Rabia Khan for an independent detailed investigation into the case was pending in the Bombay high court and hence the matter be deferred. The sessions court asked the investigating officer in the case to submit a status report on the probe and developments so far and posted the matter to July third week.

“We want a special investigation team (SIT) to be formed as soon as possible,” said Aditya Pancholi later outside the court. He said Suraj has filed for exemption and the court is yet to decide on it.

On June 10 last year, police arrested Suraj and booked him for abetment to suicide. The two were in a relationship, said the police. The cops picked up Suraj on the basis of a six page letter allegedly written by Jiah and found in her house. The Bombay high court had on July 1, last year granted him bail.

Rabiya then moved the HC in October to allege that her daughter was murdered and sought a CBI probe. A finger print report in the case revealed that no prints were found on the fan from which her body was found hanging. And the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed that the DNA in the tissues found in Jiah’s nail clipping samples belonged to her. Advocate Dinesh Tiwari who represented Jiah’s mother Rabia had questioned the suicide theory. Khan alleged that her daughter was killed by someone close to her.

The police in January filed a 450 page chargesheet in the case.