Actor Sooraj Pancholi acquitted in Jiah Khan suicide case
The verdict got here nearly 10 years after Jiah, 25 was once observed lifeless in her Mumbai flat.
The Mumbai Special CBI Court on Friday acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi of all charges in the sensational Jiah Khan death case. Sooraj had been charged with abetment to suicide in the case, but the court ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove that he was responsible for Jiah’s death.
Almost 10 years after 25-year-old Jiah Khan was found dead in her Mumbai flat, a verdict has been reached. Juhu Police registered a case of accidental death and closed the file.
Days later, Sooraj, son of veteran actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, was arrested and charged with abetment to suicide.
An American citizen, Jiah was in a relationship with Sooraj, who was trying to make his mark in Bollywood. Jiah was known for her beauty and acting skills, and Sooraj was trying to become a successful actor in India’s film industry. The two seemed to be a perfect match, but their relationship ended in tragedy.
She apparently left a note, which pointed the needle of suspicion towards Sooraj, who was later arrested and is currently in jail in connection with her death.
In a stunning turn of events, Bollywood heartthrob Sooraj was booked under IPC Section 306 for allegedly abetting the suicide of actress Jiah, just a week after Jiah took her own life.
On 3 July, 2014, Rabia Khan, Jiah’s mother, made repeated pleas to the Bombay High Court for the case to be handed over to the CBI. This was in response to directives from the High Court to investigate the matter further.
In a handwritten letter, Jiah Khan has detailed the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi. The note, which was discovered three months after her death, narrates her ordeal, her intimate relationship with Sooraj and the physical and mental torture she endured.
The prosecution in the case had examined 22 witnesses, including Jiah’s mother Rabia. Advocate Prashant Patil appeared for Sooraj and argued passionately for his acquittal.
