Jiah Khan death case: court orders police to take action

Directs Mumbai police chief to listen to mother’s grievances

Actor Jiah Khan was found dead at her residence last year. File photo

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take appropriate action after hearing the grievances of the mother of deceased actor Jiah Khan’s mother, Rabia Khan.

Ms. Rabia had alleged that her daughter was killed and also claimed that the Mumbai Police failed to conduct proper investigation in the alleged suicide case.

Meanwhile, the police on Monday informed the court that Sooraj Pancholi, the prime suspect in the case, had sent seven SMSes to Jiah on the day she allegedly committed suicide, and that she did not respond to any of them.

“We have still not received the BlackBerry messages as the cell phone is still with the forensic lab. It has not yet sent the data,” the government pleader said. She said that one laptop, two iPads and two phones belonging to the victim and the accused were sent for forensic examination.

The pleader then suggested that Ms. Rabia Khan should meet the Police Commissioner with a detailed list of grievances which the current Investigating Officer had failed to address. Mahesh Jethmalani, who represented Ms. Rabia Khan, agreed with the proposal. The court then passed an order to that effect.

“Let them have an audience with the Commissioner of Police, let them give him a written representation. He will look into the grievances then, and take appropriate action,” the division bench of Justices Naresh Patil and Anuja Prabhudesai said.

Mr. Jethmalani told the court during the arguments that the police had failed to take into consideration vital evidence like the SMSes and BBM messages, histopathology report and videography report of the post-mortem.

“We are now of the opinion that this is a case of murder. We have got two detailed reports by experts. The police have not yet shared the videography report and the histopathology report. They should be directed to do so,” he pleaded. The court observed that the Police Commissioner will take appropriate decision on sharing of reports.

The matter will be heard next on May 8.

The actor was found dead at her Juhu residence on June 3 last year.