Judgment in Jiah Khan case likely on April 28
Nearly 10 years after actor Jiah Khan was found dead in her home in Juhu, a special court is likely to give its judgment on April 28 in the case filed against her then boyfriend actor Suraj Pancholi on charges of abetting her suicide.
Special judge AS Sayyad on Thursday heard arguments on pending applications and posted the case for judgment on April 28. The court rejected a plea filed on behalf of Khan’s mother, Rabia, seeking recall of two witnesses stating that she does not have the authority to make such a plea as an intervener as the CBI has already declared the evidence closed.
The court also rejected a plea by Pancholi seeking certain documents mentioned in the forensic report.
Earlier this month, the court recorded the statement of Pancholi under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Answering 558 questions based on the evidence presented, Pancholi said that he was falsely implicated at the behest of the complainant, Rabia. He also claimed that a false statement was given by Khan’s sister that he used to abuse her when they were in a relationship.
When asked about her sister’s statement that Khan and he had a good relationship in the beginning, Pancholi said, “My relationship with Nafisa (Khan) was good throughout.”
When asked about the claim by Rabia that it is not a suicide case but that of murder, Pancholi responded stating, “I am not responsible for Nafisa’s death.”
During the trial, Pancholi was also asked about the allegations that Khan had undergone an abortion when they were in a relationship. Pancholi said that he had taken her to her family doctor as she had a fever and he was made to wait outside. “I do not know about their (between the doctor and Khan) conversation,” he told the court.
Khan had died by suicide at her Juhu home on June 3, 2013. The trial in the case began in 2019. Pancholi is facing the charge under section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
