Jiah Khan death: CBI examines Sooraj Pancholi, to be called again

Mumbai, Jun 25: CBI has examined Sooraj Pancholi, the son of film actor Aditya Pancholi, in connection with the mysterious death of actor Jiah Khan in 2013.

CBI sources said Pancholi is likely to be called again for examination. They said his father Aditya Pancholi was also examined on May 13, when the agency carried out searches at his residence.

The sources said that the agency is also probing criminal conspiracy angle in the death of Jiah, famous for her role in Amitabh Bachchan-starer 'Nishabd'. Jiah's mother has alleged that Sooraj was in relation with the actress and should be probed for the death of her daughter.

She has alleged that it was not suicide. The case had come to CBI last year following the orders of the Bombay High Court, which had directed the agency to probe whether the death was suicide or homicide on plea of Jiah's mother Rabia.

"The High Court has directed the CBI to consider whether this is a case of suicidal or homicidal death. If it comes to a conclusion that it is a homicidal death, then further probe be made to find out who is the perpetrator of the crime and accordingly action be taken," CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad had said after registration of the case.

She said that Mumbai Police have already filed a charge sheet on January 11, 2014 against a person under section 306 (abatement of suicide) of IPC.

Explaining the reasons for transferring the case to CBI, the bench had said forensic opinion privately obtained by Khan's mother Rabia were at variance with those of Mumbai Police, suggesting there was a "lacuna" in the investigation.

Jiah, the 25-year-old British-American actress, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home in Juhu on June 3, 2013.

Her relationship with actor Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zareena Wahab, was said to be under strain and it was suspected that it drove her to end her life.

PTI