Jiah Khan Case: CBI Opposes Sooraj Pancholi’s Plea to Travel Abroad

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the petition, which was filed by Sooraj Pancholi in Bombay High Court yesterday, seeking his passport to travel abroad in order to fulfil his work commitments. CBI counsel Hiten Venegaonkar has sought time from Justice Mridula Bhatkar to reply to the petition. He has also mentioned that the agency principally opposed the decision to grant him his passport.

Venegaonkar said in a statement, “We have strong objection to the return of his passport permanently. There is a separate petition filed by the victim Jiah's mother Rabiya Khan here seeking the applicant (Sooraj) to be charged under section 302 of IPC for murdering Jiah Khan and she has sought FBI probe in the case. In such circumstances it would not be advisable to return the passport permanently to the accused”.

On the other side, the court has alleged that the crime has taken place in India and, hence, it is likely to pass orders in favour of the Bollywood actor. Also, the court did not allow Khan’s lawyer to intervene in this regard and said, “In such pleas where the accused is seeking return of passport, I will not let the complainant (Rabiya) to intervene”. CBI is expected to file its response on the actor’s travel plea today.

Source: newindianexpress.com