Jiah suicide case: Sooraj attends, mother gives hearing a miss

By Nichola

on February 16, 2018

When Sooraj Pancholi was charged last month with abetting the suicide of his ex-girlfriend, actress Jiah Kha, the actor had said, “Keeping the emotions intact for the person who has passed away, we do need some movement forward. It’s been a long, long time and I can’t afford to lose more time.”

However, that is exactly what he is losing…

The Jiah Khan suicide case trial began on Wednesday and while Sooraj Pancholi, Jiah’s then-boyfriend was present in court for the first hearing, the late actress’s mother, Rabiya Khan was conspicuously absent.

Sooraj has been changed under Section 306 (Abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code, for which he has pleaded not guilty. However, Rabiya Khan, who had made all the allegations against Sooraj, was missing in court.

The Jiah Khan suicide of June 2013, which had shocked the entire nation, is still far from meeting its culmination. Sources reveal that the case has been getting constantly delayed. It’s been close to five years with no progress made and the actor and his lawyer Prashant Patil had apparently requested the court to frame the charges so that the hearings would begin.

While Sooraj’s lawyer requested the court to send summons to Rabiya, the list of witnesses was not filed by the prosecutor, who was also missing due to personal reasons. Now the court has order the prosecution to file the list by February 21, the date chosen for the next hearing. Summons have also been issued to Rabiya Khan.

It is learnt that if Rabiya remains absent for the second hearing next Wednesday, a bailable warrant will be issued against her. Should she still fail to be present, a non-bailable warrant will be issued to produce her in court.

According to Sooraj’s lawyer, Prashant Patil added, “Meanwhile, the Complainant’s lawyer made certain submissions, which were objected by us as the Complainant has no locus to address the Hon’ble Court directly even according to the orders passed previously. I have filed a pursis to that effect that in spite of specific orders passed by the Hon’ble Court, the Complainants lawyer is directly addressing the Court and has thus committed contempt of Court orders.”