Jiah suicide case: HC seeks CBI response to Sooraj’s passport plea

The Bombay high court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (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 the CBI’s response, after the state government informed the court that the probe in the case is being carried out by the central agency as per HC orders. The court has posted the application for hearing on Wednesday. Sooraj in his application has said that he has to travel abroad to fulfil certain professional commitments. He urged that he be handed over his passport and assured that once he is back in the country, he would return it to the CBI.

Jiah had allegedly hanged herself on June 3, 2013, in her suburban Juhu residence. Her 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.