Jiah Khan suicide: Charges framed against Sooraj

MUMBAI: A special women’s court on Tuesday framed charges of abetment of suicide against actor Sooraj Pancholi in connection with the death of actor Jiah Khan. Pancholi has pleaded not guilty. Khan was found hanging in her room on June 3, 2013. Pancholi was arrested a week later for abetment to suicide. With the charges framed, the court will now begin trial in the case against Pancholi. The court, however, rejected the prosecution’s arguments that Pancholi be tried for murder on the grounds of lack of evidence. On May 5, 2016, while opening the case against Pancholi, the prosecution had submitted that he be charged for murder and rape. The prosecutor contended that “as Rabiya, an informant in the case, alleged that she has reasons to believe that it is a murder case, the accused be charged for murder”. The prosecutor pleaded to charge Pancholi for rape and also for causing miscarriage without Khan’s consent. However, the case remained pending as Khan’s mother moved various courts for further probe over murder claim.