Jiah case: CBI opposes Sooraj’s plea for return of passport

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday opposed a petition filed by actor Sooraj Pancholi, accused of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend-actor Jiah Khan, seeking his passport to be handed back to him so that he can travel abroad.

CBI counsel Hiten Venegaonkar told Justice Mridula Bhatkar that the agency wants time to file its reply to the petition, but was in principle opposed to it. 

“We have strong objection to the return of his passport permanently. There is a separate petition filed by the victim’s mother Rabiya Khan, seeking the applicant (Sooraj) to be charged under Section 302 of the IPC for murdering Jiah Khan and she has sought an FBI probe into the case. In such circumstances, it would not be advisable to return the passport permanently to the accused,” Venegaonkar said.

The court, however, said that the alleged offence has taken place on Indian land, and hence, the court here can pass orders. 

The court directed the CBI to file its reply affidavit and posted the petition for hearing to Thursday.