Jiah Khan suicide: HC stays Sooraj Pancholi's trial for 3 weeks

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on yesterday extended the stay on the trial in a lower court against actor Sooraj Pancholi, accused of abetting the suicide of actress Jiah Khan in 2013, and posted a petition filed by her mother Rabia seeking a SIT probe into Jiah's death after three weeks.

A division bench of Justices NH Patil and PD Naik adjourned Rabia's petition at the request of her advocate Dhairyasheel Patil who said he needed time as he was appointed only yesterday.

"Time and again, adjournment is being requested in this matter. The Supreme Court had directed for it to be heard and disposed of at the earliest. This is the last time we are granting adjournment," the HC said. "The interim relief granted in the petition by way of stay on the trial in the lower court is extended for a period of three weeks," the bench said.

In her petition before HC, Rabia had sought the probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleging that CBI, investigating the case, had concurred with the finding of the Mumbai Police that Jiah's death was a case of suicide and not homicide. She had requested the HC to set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the case afresh.

Jiah's boyfriend-cum-actor Sooraj was arrested on the charge of abetting her suicide on June 10, 2013, a week after the actress was found hanging at her residence in Mumbai. He was released on July 2, 2013, after the HC granted him bail.