The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on April 28 acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi in case of actor Jiah Khan’s abetment of suicide in 2013, due to paucity of evidence.
Special judge A. S. Sayyed acquitted Pancholi due to paucity of evidence. He has been out on bail since 2013. The court told Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan she can appeal against the acquittal in Bombay High Court.
The court said, “No doubt, it is an unfortunate incidence that the young girl has committed suicide. The available evidence on record reflects that the deceased was a victim of her sentiments. She could not overcome her emotions. She could have always walked out of the relationship. However, she could not overcome her sentiments and her love for the accused, for which the accused cannot be held responsible.”
The judge concluded, “In the present case the evidence on record against the accused is vague, general, and omnibus. From this evidence, any specific overt act or role cannot be attributed to the accused. There is absolutely no evidence to show that on 3.6.2013 the accused had acted in any manner which could reflect mens rea that he wanted her to commit suicide. The prosecution further failed to prove that there was any action on the part of the accused which compels the deceased to commit suicide.”
As per the charge sheet by the CBI, on 3 June 2013, Jiah’s mother found Jiah dead at her residence. It was after Jiah had left Pancholi’s house that morning. The two had been staying together for the past two days. Pancholi was arrested on June 10, 2013, on charges of abetment of suicide a week after Jiah’s death and was granted bail by the High Court in a week.
On February 25, 2016, the High Court had stayed the trial against Pancholi before the lower court and the State government had sought for charges of murder and rape to be levied upon the actor. On February 15, 2016, Khan, had moved High Court against the investigation report by CBI terming her daughter’s death as suicidal and not homicidal which was dismissed by the court.
Earlier on, Juhu Police which was investigating the case had said Jiah ended her life because Pancholi broke the relationship with her and that her career was not going anywhere. The advocate said that there were messages exchanged between Jiah and Pancholi which were deleted by him and were not relied upon by the CBI.
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