Mumbai: District and additional sessions judge of the Vasai court R D Deshpande on Friday rejected bail to television actor Sheezan Khan, accused of abetment of suicide of his costar Tunisha Sharma on December 24. Khan’s lawyer Shailendra Mishra said they will move the Bombay High Court for bail after obtaining a copy of the order. Khan, who was arrested by the Valiv police on December 25, has been lodged in Thane prison since December 31.

Mishra said the court rejected the bail based on the ‘last seen theory’, wherein the accused is the last person spotted with the victim. Tunisha was found hanging in the washroom of Khan’s room at Bhajanlal studios in Naigaon. Both were lead actors in the show Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul. Video footage obtained by cops from the studios on the day of the suicide, showed Khan leaving his room for a shoot and Tunisha following him. Mid-way, she returns to her room and then walks into Khan’s room.

The couple, who were dating, after the show went on air in August 2022, broke up in early December. Tunisha’s mother Vanita’s advocate Tarun Sharma said they have maintained the ‘last seen theory’ as Khan was not coming clean on what transpired between them before she took the extreme step.

A video of Khan along with two staffers taking Tunisha to the Fever and Brain Multispeciality Hospital in Naigaon had also surfaced. Khan was detained by cops in the hospital and his cell phone was seized. 

Khan’s lawyer said that his client was innocent and could not be blamed for the suicide. He said that Tunisha’s laptop, which could provide some leads in the case, is yet to be found.

Khan got a relief when the court allowed him to keep his long hair — the look of his show — while in judicial custody. Vanita’s lawyer had opposed the move.

Sheezan has now been replaced in the show. Vanita’s lawyer told the court that Khan’s custody was needed as it is still not clear what transpired between the two actors before she allegedly committed suicide.