SC asks Jiah’s mother to move high court

Rabia Khan, the mother of the deceased actress, has also sought a stay on the lower court proceedings and alleged that the CBI has concurred with the findings of the Mumbai police that it was a suicide and not homicidal death.

 “The trial in the lower court is not proceeding in a proper manner and there are likelihood of the accused (Sooraj) being discharged in the case,” Rabia’s counsel told the Vacation Bench of Justices AM Sapre and Ashok Bhushan.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan said the CBI, “due to reasons best known to them”, has been vehemently opposing the appointment of special public prosecutor in the case by the Maharashtra government. He said that investigation must be handed over to the SIT as the CBI had in its charge-sheet stated that the death was not homicidal, despite forensic evidence suggesting otherwise.

The Bench then asked Rabia to approach Bombay high court with her fresh application. The Apex Court directed the High Court to hear Rabia’s plea expeditiously on June 7, the date already fixed in the case.