Mumbai: The State government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it has withdrawn the appointment of its special public prosecutor in the Jiah Khan death case, and the trial, which had been stayed in the lower court, will now resume.
A single-judge bench of Justice A.K. Menon was hearing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the State government’s appointment of special public prosecutor Dinesh Tiwari in the case. The CBI had contended that since it was the investigating agency, the government could not appoint a prosecutor.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni informed the court that the State was withdrawing Mr Tiwari’s appointment. The court, therefore, dismissed the plea and directed that the trial, which had been stayed due to the challenge, be resumed. The lower court is at the stage of framing of charges against actor Sooraj Pancholi.
On February 25, 2016, the HC had stayed the trial against Mr. Pancholi, and the State government had sought charges of murder and rape to be levied upon actor at the trial court. On February 15, 2016, Jiah’s mother, Rabia Khan, had moved HC against the CBI report terming her daughter’s death as suicidal and not homicidal, which was dismissed the court.
As per the charge sheet filed by CBI, on June 3, 2013, Jiah’s mother found her hanging at her residence. Mr Pancholi was arrested a week later on charges of abetment to suicide and was later granted bail by the HC.
