After the adjournment last week, the City Civil and Sessions Court resumed hearing in the Jiah Khan case. While Sooraj Pancholi and his lawyer Prashant Patil were present for the proceedings, Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan and her lawyer didn’t attend it. Sooraj has been charged under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetment of Jiah’s suicide, while Rabiya has been alleging that her daughter was murdered.
The prosecutor filed the list of witnesses to be summoned for the next set of hearings. The court also reportedly told the Prosecutor to issue summons for the complainant, Rabiya Khan, to be present for the next hearings, scheduled for March 21 and 22.
The prosecution’s list of witnesses comprises 70 names, including Rabiya Khan and Anju Mahendru, cops and CBI officials investigating the case, forensic lab technicians, doctors and neighbours.
Last Thursday, Rabiya had filed two petitions in the High Court — one for the findings of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to be incorporated in the chargesheet and another against sudden removal of the previous prosecutor. Following her filing the petitions, she left for London last week itself.
Post the the day’s proceedings, Pancholi’s lawyer Prashant Patil said, “We welcome the development in the matter as it gives scope to my client to conduct the cross examination of the witnesses. Till date, only fake allegations have been made against my client before the media. Now, it’s the time to prove such allegations on evidence.We are hoping that the complainant remains physically present on the next date and proceeds with the matter. It is in the interest of justice that truth precipitates upon the surface and nobody indulges into delaying tactics anymore.”
When contacted, Rabiya replied via text message that she would be in Mumbai before that. “The petitions I have filed will be heard next week.” About her rushing back to London, she maintained she had important work there. “I have two young girls. I need to look after their needs, too,” she added, referring to her daughters, Kavita and Karishma.
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