Jiah Khan case: CBI gets a stay on trial from High Court

The Bombay High court on Monday once again stayed proceedings in the Jiah Khan trial against actor Sooraj Pancholi, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved an application, objecting to appointment of Advocate Dinesh Tiwari, as Special Public Prosecutor in the case. Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar appearing for CBI argued that since the case was investigated by the agency, the Central Government was authorized to appoint the prosecutor to conduct the trial, state of Maharashtra, could not have appointed. 

Moreover, Tiwari has been assisting the deceased’s mother Rabia Khan in her legal fight at the sessions and high court, thus there was direct conflict of interest, if allowed to carry out the trial. The high court agreed to arguments put forth by CBI and stayed the trial until, June 26 and posted the matter for further hearing then asking Rabia Khan and the state to file their replies.

In February, the high court had vacated the stay imposed on trial against Sooraj pending the hearing of the petition filed by Rabia, against CBI categorizing Jiah's death on June 3, 2013 as suicidal and not homicidal. Jiah's boyfriend was arrested for abetting her suicide on June 10, 2013 but released on July 2, 2013 after the HC granted him bail. The petition alleged that the CBI concluded in haste that the case was that of suicide; that it did not bother to counter question concerned people and that it did not bother getting important evidence on record. Trial court is yet to frame charges against Pancholi.