Jiah Khan case: HC seeks CBI response to Sooraj Pancholi's passport plea

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today issued a notice to CBI seeking its response to a petition filed by actor Sooraj Pancholi, accused of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend-actor Jiah Khan, for handing him back his passport as he has to travel abroad.

Justice Mridula Bhatkar sought CBI's response after the state government informed the court today that the probe in the suicide case is being done by the central agency as per HC orders.

The court has posted the application for hearing tomorrow.

Sooraj in his application has said he has to travel outside the country to fulfil certain professional commitments. He urged that he be given his passport and assured that once he is back in the country, he would return it to the investigating agency.

Jiah had allegedly committed suicide on June 3, 2013 after hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her suburban Juhu residence. Jiah's boyfriend-actor Sooraj Pancholi was arrested for abetting her suicide on June 10, 2013 but was released on July 2 after the HC granted him bail.

Jiah's mother petitioned the High Court seeking probe by an independent agency under supervision of the court and alleged that Jiah was murdered by Sooraj. Following this, the High Court in July 2014 transferred probe in the case to CBI.

CBI, after investigation, submitted its charge sheet before a trial court here and charged Sooraj for abatement of suicide.Rabia then once again petitioned the High Court against CBI categorizing Jiah's death as suicide and not homicide.