Jiah Khan suicide: Prosecution seeks murder, rape charges against Sooraj

A Maharashtra prosecutor sought on Thursday actor Sooraj Pancholi be tried for the alleged rape and murder of actor Jiah Khan, who killed herself in Mumbai in June, 2013.

The prosecution’s push came on a day the court was scheduled to frame the charges in the case and begin the trial but advocates from both sides sought adjournment.

First, the special public prosecutor was absent and his junior sought an adjournment – drawing the judges’ ire. Thereafter, the advocate for Rabia, Jiah’s mother, also moved an application seeking adjournment since a petition for transfer of investigation for further probe has been pending before the Bombay high court.

Disappointed by the repetitive demands, the court said that the advocates did not appear inclined to proceed with the case.

The judges asked the regular public prosecutor of the court Kalpana Hire to argue on the charge against Pancholi.

Pancholi’s advocate Prashant Patil objected to the demand of the prosecution for charges of murder and rape. “Even it is not the case of the agency that Jiah was murdered and raped. There is no evidence for framing charges of murder against Pancholi,” Patil said, adding there is no evidence against Pancholi for the charge of abetment to suicide. He said that Jiah’s abortion was a medical termination since there are evidences that she went to doctors.

Separately, the advocate for CBI moved an application stating that they had investigated the case on the orders of the HC and should hence be allowed to proceed.

The court, however, rejected the application. The court has now adjourned the hearing on the charge against Pancholi to May 20.