Trouble for Sooraj Pancholi? Actor may be charged with murder, rape in Jiah Khan suicide case

New Delhi, May 6: It looks like Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi, who is an accused of abetting Jiah Khan's death, will be in deep trouble soon. Reportedly, rape and murder charges could be invoked against actor in model-turned-actress Jiah Khan suicide case.

Earlier on Thursday, public prosecution requested court to frame charges of rape and causing miscarriage without woman's (Jiah) consent against Sooraj. Public Prosecutor Kalpana Hire also demanded that murder charge should be lodged against actor.

"Rabiya (Jiah's mother) is the informant and she says it's the case of section 302 of IPC (murder). She was the first one who saw the body hence Sooraj should be charged for murder," Hire told the special womens' court conducting the trial in the case.

However, the legal sources say that murder charge against actor could be decided only at the time of framing charges by the trail court.

Special Judge A S Shende will continue to hear the arguments on framing of charges on May 20.

However, Sooraj Pancholi's lawyer Prashant Patil told the court that there is no evidence for framing the charges of murder against Pancholi. Patil said even there was no evidence against Pancholi to charge him for abetment.

He said the abortion of Jiah was a medical termination as there was no evidence to suggest that she went to doctors.

Earlier in the day, CBI's lawyer Bharat Badami moved the application saying that advocate Dinesh Tiwari (state- appointed prosecutor) cannot represent in the case but the CBI prosecutor should appear in the case. However, the court rejected CBI's prayer saying it has already allowed Tiwari to conduct the trial.

Meanwhile, Rabiya's lawyer Swapnil Ambure said he has grievance with CBI opening the case. But when the court asked Ambure to open the case, he sought time even as CBI said it wanted more time to argue.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)