Mumbai : Deposing for the first time as a prosecution witness, actor Jiah Khan’s mother, London-based Rabiya Khan, told the special CBI court on Wednesday that about four months before her alleged suicide in June 2013, her daughter had accused her boyfriend, actor Sooraj Pancholi, of physically and verbally abusing her.

Pancholi is on trial for abetting the alleged suicide.

Mother of three daughters, one of whom was Nafisa — Jiah’s official name — Rabiya became emotional recounting how on a trip home to London in February 2013, Jiah broke down and told her how Sooraj, who was dating for a few months then, would abuse her, call her dirty names and had thrown her out of the car.

The mother claimed that in pictures sent by Jiah a month earlier during New Year’s, she saw bruises on her thigh. When asked, Jiah allegedly told her that it happened after another fight with Sooraj. “She said he (Sooraj) puts me down in front of others and flirts with others in front of me and I think he cheats on me...,” the mother said.

The hearing for the day ended with the mother telling the court that in April 2013, the young couple had rekindled their relationship and Sooraj had even told her that he wanted to marry Jiah. “When I asked Jiah if she trusted him, she didn’t say a word...,” the mother said.

Rabiya’s deposition will continue on Thursday before special judge AS Sayyad.

During her examination in chief conducted by special public prosecutor Manoj Chaladan, Rabiya recalled how in September 2012, Jiah had told her family how a “guy (Sooraj), a wannabe actor, was stalking her on Facebook” and how he was an ardent fan. “The first time they (Sooraj and Jiah) met, he came with flowers and was very besotted. He couldn’t believe his luck that he had managed to meet her in person. She (Jiah) said he was extremely charming,” Rabiya recalled.

Jiah also told her mother that despite Sooraj being younger, he was very mature. She said that soon they began to live in each other’s homes and Jiah even spent a lot of money on Sooraj’s birthday and bought him a black diamond cross for Rs 2 lakh.

The mother said Christmas was Jiah’s favourite festival and she was to fly to London to celebrate with her family. She said, however, Jiah did not turn up and instead on December 24, 2012, she got a message from Sooraj.

“He was apologizing for taking out his anger out on Jiah. He said he was sorry he lost it at Jiah… He said he was drunk and had a fight with a friend. He said that he wanted another chance and that it will never happen again. He also said that he loved Jiah and loved me more than his mother…,” Rabiya said.