Bollywood Actor Sooraj Pancholi Cleared In Jiah Khan Suicide Case

After a decade, the court gave its final verdict on the Jiah Khan suicide case. Read on to know more.

A special CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court in Mumbai gave its final verdict on actor Jiah Khan’s suicide case, on Friday. Actor Sooraj Pancholi has been accused of abetting of actress Jiah Khan’s suicide case. The court cleared the actor from the guilty charges due to a lack of evidence. 

After 10 years, the special CBI court judge AS Sayyed said “Due to paucity of evidence, the court can’t hold Sooraj Pancholi guilty, hence acquitted or clear”. During the verdict, actor Sooraj Pancholi present in the court with his mother Zarina Wahab. Post the court’s verdict, the actor posted a story on his Instagram account that “The Truth always wins”.

The actor was present in the court with his mother Zarina Wahab

Late actor Jiah Khan, was best known for her role in Amitabh Bachchan’s starring movie “Nishabd” for which she was nominated for “Best Female Debut” in the Filmfare Awards. She also played a pivotal role in Aamir Khan Starring “Ghajini”, in which she played the character of Sunita, a medical student. She also did a supporting role in Housefull (part 1) movie. 

The actor posted a story on his Instagram after his win

On June 13, 2013, at the age of 25, the actress was found dead in her home in Juhu, Mumbai. She hanged herself at her home. Mumbai Police initially suspected it was a clear case of suicide. Days later, Jiah Khan’s mother Rabia Khan alleged that her daughter was being murdered and it was not a suicide.

After that, Mumbai Police booked the late actress’s ex-boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi under section 306 (on charges of abetment to suicide) on the basis of a 6-page suicide note found at her home. In the 6-page suicide letter, Jiah Khan spoke about her troubled relation with her boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi, that she was mentally and physically abused by him. In the Postpartum report, it was clear that the cause of death was hanging.

Late actor Jiah Khan, was best known for her role in Nishabd movie

After Twenty-two days in jail, on 2 July 2013, the Bombay High Court granted the actor bail after signing a Rs 50,000 bond. Jiah Khan’s mother Rabia was not happy with the court decision and requested the judiciary for a detailed investigation. After 1 year, the court transferred Jiah Khan’s suicide case to CBI. In 2015, CBI found a lead of the connection of Sooraj and his father Aditya Pancholi with the case. 

CBI stated that the late actress’s abusive relationship with Sooraj Pancholi led her to commit suicide. Her mother also said in her testimony that her daughter was suffering from depression and was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi. Rabia Khan had filed for fresh investigation several times but the court dismissed her plea. 

In 2021, the Jiah Khan case was reassigned to the special central bureau of Investigation. After that, Aditya Pancholi filed the Rs 100 cr defamation case against Rabia Khan. Last year, Rabia Khan again filed the plea for a fresh and thorough investigation of her daughter’s suicide case. However, the court dismissed her plea.