The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian, who died in June 2020 allegedly after falling from a high-rise building in Malad. The judges ordered the CBI to appoint a senior and an experienced officer to carry out the investigation in the case.

The judges, while ordering a CBI probe made it clear that "no one will be treated as an accused, unless the I.O finds substantiate material against someone". The order comes on a plea filed by Disha's father, who claimed that his daughter was gang-raped and murdered. He alleged that various influential people had an active role behind the murder.

(Disha's father) Satish Salian's lawyer, Advocate Nilesh Ojha told the press, "The court issued a clear order directing the CBI to register an FIR in this matter and record Satish Salian's statement. FIR ke baad hoga investigation. Jinjinkay khilaf saboot milenge woh aaropi banenge, jinkay khilaf saboot nahi milenge woh aaropi nahi hongay. FIR mien naam sabka hoga, whoever Satish Salian thinks is responsible." The list also includes the name of actor Sooraj Pancholi.

In an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times, Sooraj Pancholi stated, "I spoke to you for your Bombay Times report in 2020 and I repeat, I didn't know who Disha Salian is, never met her in my life, never spoke to her on the phone, never attended any event or party of hers. In my previous legal battle, I learnt my lesson that keeping quiet does not help. Silence cost me as people spread misinformation on social media. Even this time, my family doesn't want me to speak up. They want me to stay away from all this. I am focussing on my career in films but I don’t want to be the soft target anymore. I don’t want to be dragged into this without any proof and subjected to that trauma all over again.”

The actor revealed, “I voluntarily gave my statement to the CBI and the Malvani police in 2021 about Disha Salian. I have never met her in my life. I have no connection with her whatsoever. I want her father to get justice. If there’s any evidence against me, please put me behind bars but if there isn’t, you need to stop dragging me unnecessarily. It’s unfair. I don’t care who is accused, who isn’t, I have nothing to do with her case, and I am ready to give as many statements as needed. The biggest lesson I have learnt is to speak up. People need to stop portraying me as a villain. I cannot revisit that trauma and perception warfare.”

Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath is Sooraj Pancholi’s first film after his 2023 acquittal in the Jiah Khan case. In the historical drama that also stars Suniel Shetty and Vivek Oberoi, Pancholi plays Hamirji Gohil, a warrior who defended the Somnath Temple from attack in the 14th century. “Not all actors in their career are offered a warrior film. I was offered this film because of my physicality; they wanted someone young and strong,” he says.

Pancholi, who debuted with Hero (2015), is in his 10th year at the movies. Yet, Kesari Veer is only his fourth film. That is a personal choice, he states. “I had done a film, and I don’t know why I did it. But after that, I vowed that I’d never take up a project that made me feel terrible on set. Now, I only want to take up work that excites me. I wish this was my time to say, ‘Look at the volume,’ but it’s not.”

Circumstances have also played a role in how his career panned out. After Khan’s demise in 2013, Pancholi was charged with abetment to suicide, and acquitted in 2023.

Describing the 10-year ordeal as “very difficult”, he reflects, “When all fingers point at you, you feel cornered, and I did. But I never allowed myself to spiral into bad habits like substance abuse. Keeping myself active helped to heal my mind. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, but it made me stronger. I don’t talk about it with my family or friends. But sometimes, it catches up with me, and I feel overwhelmed.”

Kanu Chauhan is excited to be the first director-producer to bring the tale of a Gujarati warrior, who fought to save the Somnath Temple from intruders in the 14th century, to the big screen. “The film is based on a real-life story that happened back then in Gujarat. It’s a story that’s close to my heart, and one that the team researched on for a couple of years before it went into production,” he says of Kesari Veer, which tells the stories of the unsung warriors who sacrificed their lives to protect the Somnath Temple from Mughal invaders.

Featuring Sooraj Pancholi, Suniel Shetty, and Vivek Oberoi, the patriotic offering, a source says, stars Pancholi as a 16-year-old newly married chieftain, Veer Hamirji Gohil, who sacrifices his life while defending the temple against the invasion of Zafar Khan, a general of the Delhi Sultanate ruler, Alauddin Khilji. Hamirji joins forces with the ruler of Dron, Raja Vegdaji Bhil (played by Shetty), as they take on the Mughal emperor together over a 10-day battle, says the source.

“Suniel had to brush up on his horse-riding skills and learned weaponry, like self-made spears, slings, axes, bows and arrows, knives, and swords, belonging to that time. He also learned archery, as the Bhils were skilled in that, as well as guerilla warfare. He has a unique look in the movie and sports a pagdi, angarkha, and dhoti, and carries a moustache,” says the source.

Because Shetty takes charge of a role that is crucial to the narrative, Chauhan says they had to design a look that was “aligned with the era that the film is set in.” “We have a lot of action sequences that have been designed by south action director Kevin Kumar. The costumes have been created by Chandrakant Sonawane.” 

Chauhan, who has co-directed the film with Prince Dhiman, says he has left no stone unturned to revive the ambience of the era.

“We have constructed lavish sets and grand palaces. There is a lot of VFX involved. We have spent more than R60 crore on the movie and shot it over a continuous 120-day schedule from November 23 in Mumbai and Gujarat. Post-production work is currently underway, and we plan to release the motion poster by this month. The names of each character will subsequently be shared,” he says, adding that the team plans to release the multilingual movie by mid-2025.

In 2023, actor Sooraj Pancholi was acquitted of abetment to suicide charges in the Jiah Khan suicide case. Now, in a new interview, Pancholi’s mother Zarina Wahab looked back at the case, claiming that Khan had tried to commit suicide several times before meeting her son.

In an interview with Lehren, Wahab spoke about Jiah’s death: “Uske pehle bhi usne chaar-paanch baar try kiya hai, lekin naseeb aisi thi ki jab mere bete ka turn aaya toh it happened.

She also said that her son faced a professional setback because of the case. “We all went through a bad time, but I believe in one thing: ‘If you spoil anybody’s life with lies, take it as a loan; it will come back to you with interest.’ Karma says that. It took 10 years, but he is out of it, and I am happy. It has affected Sooraj’s career. Woh kya karti thi sab jaante hai, I don’t want to open my mouth. Bolke mein apne aap ko chota nahi karna chahti hoon,” said the Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) actor.

Jiah Khan, best known for her film Nishabd (2007) starring Amitabh Bachchan, was found dead at her Mumbai home on June 3, 2013, by her mother.

Sooraj Pancholi is back in the movies. The actor, who faced a decade-long trial before getting acquitted in the Jiah Khan case last year, has finally moved on.

Dressed in black, he was recently spotted at Bhansali’s Heeramandi premiere with a stunning woman, which led to speculation about the two dating. Addressing the curiosity Sooraj spoke to Bombay Times in an exclusive chat, Without divulging much about his relationship status, he said,, “Akanksha Sharma is a close friend and a co-star. We are working on a film together.”

Akanksha has previously featured in a dance video alongside Tiger Shroff and has worked in the Kannada film industry.

The actor’s comeback film is an action-entertainer. He elaborates, “I have finally moved on. I have no legal restrictions, so this time around, there’s no mental baggage. I am glad to be back on set. The film is a biopic on one of the bravest Indian warriors who fought and defended the Somnath temple. I play a warrior in it.”

Sooraj has had three releases in 10 years. Talking about making up for lost time, he says, “I am in no rush or race. I want to play different characters in every film. I just want to grow as a performer and do my best every time.”

With his 1983 film, Hero, completing 40 years, Jackie Shroff is feeling nostalgic. The film marked the actor’s debut in a lead role and he is grateful to director Subhash Ghai. “We sowed the seed 40 years back, and I am still reaping the benefits. Subhash ji brought me out of the chawl and made me a star. Unhone patthar ko hero bana diya,” he says.

With many older films and songs getting remakes, Jackie, who, too, has starred in a remake (Devdas, 2002), feels that there’s “nothing wrong” in it. “It’s a way to give a tribute to an iconic film and try to recreate the magic,” says the Jailer actor, adding, “It can’t be the same as the original, but it is the attempt that matters.”

In 2015, Hero was remade with actors Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in the lead. Now, Jackie wants to see his son, actor Tiger Shroff star in a remake of the film: “I feel if it is remade again, it would turn into a beautiful one. I would like to see Tiger in it. Hero role mil gaya toh maza aayega as he would take my legacy forward. I hope he gets to work with good directors, like I did. I want the audience to give him the same love they gave me.”

Hero was the third-highest grosser that year and the songs were hit, too. However, the 66-year-old confesses that he didn’t think it would do well at the box office: “[When I was shooting for the film] I couldn’t believe what was happening around me. I starred alongside Meenakshi Seshadri, Shakti Kapoor and (late actor) Shammi Kapoor. I was scared to work with them. After the film’s release, my life changed.”

Life is looking up for Sooraj Pancholi both on personal and professional fronts. However, rising above the challenging phase of fighting a decade-long legal case wasn’t easy. Sooraj and his family (parents Zarina Wahab and Aditya Pancholi) heaved a sigh of relief when he was acquitted in the Jiah Khan suicide case by a special CBI court in April this year.

He says, “Only I know what I went through, as only I had to get back home alone, wake up, and fight the scenario again. I couldn’t leave the country due to travel restrictions and as a result, I lost out on films and shows.”

Not only were there travel restrictions, but work offers were reduced as the case continued. Sooraj says, “I understand why producers and people were slightly hesitant. If I were a producer, I would have the same concerns. I have always been realistic. I knew the entertainment industry would not always be glitzy, glamourous, and easy even before I stepped into it, and I was prepared for it. People often say, ‘Log kuch bhi bolenge kya farak padta hai’ and that you needn’t worry when you know that you are not wrong. But at the end of the day, we are all humans, and it does affect us.”

Despite a tumultuous past, Sooraj didn’t lose faith in love. In fact, he surprised us by disclosing that he has been in a steady relationship. He shares, “I think my relationship with Jiah was probably the shortest relationship I have had. After that, I have been in one relationship and it’s been about seven years now, and it is beautiful. There’s nothing in the world that can match up to the feeling of being in love, being taken care of, and doing the same for the other person. For me, this relationship it’s very personal because many have judged me unfairly as a bad lover or partner, but only those close to me know how I am. The general perception is misconstrued. She is not an actress and hence, I wouldn’t want to divulge her identity. Besides, I prefer to keep my relationship private because so much about me is out there already.”

We ask if marriage on the cards, and he says, “Maybe, in a few years.”

On the work front, the actor, who will soon be seen alongside Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia in a single titled ‘Jaane Jaa’, a recreation of the 70s iconic song ‘Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha’ (‘Jawani Diwani’), which has been re-produced by DJ Chetas and sung by Atif Aslam and Asees Kaur, is excited about having a busy year ahead. He looks forward to shooting for a web series (a period drama) and an action film. He says, “I would love to be part of a full-blown action film as I am an ardent fan of this genre.”

Sooraj says, “People chase money or fame as a mark of their success; however, freedom has been the biggest success in my life. I didn’t have that as a 20-year-old boy. Now that I have found it, I truly understand the value of freedom. It’s a relief that my past no longer haunts me.”

I am still trying to believe that I don’t have to go to court anymore. When these charges were put on me, I was 21. I am 32 now. I spent my entire 20s in court. Even today (the day of the judgement), maybe to others, seemed something different. But for me, it felt the same because I have been sitting in court every week. I have fought a lot. It has taken a lot of patience and courage.

I was the only one there for Jiah during her worst time. Her family is now running for justice, but what justice are they talking about? They were not there for their daughter when she needed them. I had informed Jiah’s family that she was going through depression. I did as much as I could for her at that time. But, I was only 21 years old. I was not even capable of taking care of myself. Yet, I tried my best to take care of Jiah, who was a few years older than me. In the end, she didn’t need me; she needed her family. The sad truth is that her family, including her mother, were only present in Jiah’s life when they needed financial support.

(Cuts in) That’s the technical term for lawyers and judges to use. There is no evidence against me; it’s not ‘lack’ of evidence. ‘Lack’ makes it sound suspicious.

It has been extremely difficult. I felt lonely because I didn’t want to speak to my family about it. They were going through a lot because of me anyway. Besides them, I don’t really speak to anybody. That made me feel really upset. It’s very easy to accuse somebody, but only the person knows what it takes to prove that everything being said against them is not true.

A lot, because of this perception [that the world had formed of me]. I was made into this ‘evil monster’ when I was only 21. It was not in my control because I was facing a virtual media trial, where there was no investigation, no research, no evidence. My entire trial was a media trial. It was all hearsay. That’s what made it even worse.

In his first exclusive interview after being acquitted in the Jiah Khan suicide case on Friday, actor Sooraj Pancholi (30), reflects upon his decade-long trial coming to an end, his hopeful present and what lies ahead for him. In this conversation with us, the actor drops his guard like never before. Excerpts…

It’s a huge weight off my shoulders. These past 10 years, even when I was in a relationship, I couldn’t give it my hundred per cent because my future was uncertain. I can now plan my life. No matter what you have in life, peace is what you need the most, beyond fame, money and success. I have not been at peace for the past 10 years. Every night before I slept, I thought about this. As I woke up, I thought about it and this happened to not just me, but my father (Aditya Pancholi), mother (Zarina Wahab) and sister (Sana). I am yet to come to terms with the fact that it is over. I am still getting used to me being a free man. It hasn’t sunk in yet.

I sent a friend request to Jiah on Facebook. She was a beautiful girl and had done a few films. She reverted about a year later and we became friends. I was in a relationship with Jiah for only five months and I didn’t know the magnitude of what she was going through. She needed love not from her boyfriend, but her family too. She wanted them to support and understand her.

Jiah had a lot of pressure to support her family - two younger stepsisters, mother and her partner. She was the only earning member and she wasn’t getting the kind of work that would help her in doing so. I didn’t know the gravity of the situation then as a 20-year-old, but I had informed her mother about her depression and that she needed help. Back then, there wasn’t much awareness about mental health. She didn’t have that emotional support from them. She only had me.

When I had initially met Jiah and we weren’t in a relationship, she had tried to slit her hand wanting to end her life in 2012. I had called Rabiya ji in London, and she told me she will be in Mumbai on the next flight, but she didn’t show up for months. Was this a normal parent-child relationship? I was there for her and during that time, we fell in love. She was a wonderful person but my love for her wasn’t enough. She needed familial love. There’s so much I could have said in court, but I didn’t because I want the family to have peace, but accusing me is not the way. The court has observed that the suicide letter presented as Jiah’s was not written by her and was submitted to the police days after it was given to the media. The judgement copy states, ‘The circumstances create serious suspicion regarding the actual author of the said letter.’

From the moment I stepped out of my house to the time I got back, I felt trapped, breathless, and judged every day. Especially in showbiz, perception is everything. At any event, I was the last person to reach and the first to leave. Even when they were probably not judging me, I felt that way. There was this constant pressure, a feeling that people don’t want to be around me or seen with me and that is the worst feeling ever… the thought of being unwanted. When this happened to me, I was not a part of the industry. I was accused in 2013 and my first film came out in 2015. I did sense a bit of hesitation and hostility. I was removed from projects. The films that I was working on were stopped midway. Every time I tried to move on, some fake reports in the media and vicious online trolling held me back.

I was so fed up. Baseless accusations and bizarre conspiracy theories connected me to the death of Disha Salian (celebrity manager), which I had nothing to do with! When you are in the dirt, it’s easy to put some more dirt on you. It was horrible! I don’t speak about my problems to anyone. I don’t share my inner turmoil even with my parents because I don’t want them to suffer. On Friday, after a decade I looked my parents in the eye. We wouldn’t speak about this case (Jiah Khan) in the house. I would discuss it with my lawyers, but never with my family. My mother wanted to accompany me to court for the verdict, so you saw her there. My sister stayed with my father at home. For 10 years, I went to the court alone. I didn’t want them to see what I was facing in court or going through in life. I don’t vent, I have trained myself to be this way. The only time I cried was when I entered my house after the acquittal. That was closure for me.

I must make this clear. Eight years ago, as an accused, I had a right to be discharged based on insufficient evidence against me, but my family and I opted to undergo trial. It was my decision to face trial. I had a discharge order from the Bombay HC, but I wanted the truth to come out. Had I been discharged, people would have assumed that I got away because I am ‘influential’. I am sure people even today might think that Sooraj got away, but I did not. I have hardly spoken about this case in the media, so it was easy for people to think that I was the bad guy. I want people to go through my judgement letter. It has all the details. They can then decide for themselves.

Salman Khan is not a friend of my father or mother. Of course, they know each other as they all work in the same industry. I was an AD on Ek Tha Tiger and he had told me that he will produce my first film. I was accused in 2013 two years before that film (Hero) came out, and he still produced that film and stood by me. He has done more than anyone else for me, but I know my limits and I won’t exploit that bond. I have met him a hundred times, but never for work. He was the first person I messaged as soon as I left the court. He had told me, ‘Sooraj, if you know in your heart that you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.’ I knocked on everyone’s door for work in these last 10 years. Corporates and studios didn’t want to work with someone who had travel restrictions and a sword dangling over his head. They wanted me to have a clean chit first. I feel reborn now and I am ready to work.

This is no longer about justice but harassment. I just want her to leave me alone. There is no revenge to take from me. I have done nothing wrong. Baseless allegations were made against me, and nothing was proved in court except that I was in a relationship with her. The mother just wants to take the guilt off her shoulders and put it on someone else. She needs a person to be blamed so that she feels at peace. Jiah didn’t have a father. She met him once when she was a baby. Her mother moved houses, she came to Mumbai at 16 to become an actor and she had been supporting her family financially since then. No other person was investigated except for me because I was her boyfriend. Is being in a relationship or loving somebody a crime? As a 20-year-old boy, I tried to help Jiah as much as I could. There’s nothing more that I could have done. Today, I am 10 years more mature, more aware about mental health. I could have strived harder to save her had it happened now.

“God has given us a sigh of relief,” exclaims actor Zarina Wahab, about her son, actor Sooraj Pancholi’s acquittal in the Jiah Khan suicide case of 2013.

“Kehte hain na, bhagwaan ke ghar der hai, andher nahin. This is an excellent illustration of it,” she says, adding, “Sooraj can think peacefully now and will soon start afresh. He will definitely do something better in life and in his career.”

The last 10 years, she admits, have been exhausting, with her son going in and out of court for trial and hearings. But, the actor says she had no expectations from anyone during this time period.

“We never begged for assistance. Na kuch maanga humne, na kisi ke aage haath phailaaye. Sirf upar waale se dua maangte the aur upar wale ne humari sunn li. He took his own time, par insaaf toh mila,” she shares.

Wahab is quick to add that a lot has happened in the past decade. Not only did Sooraj face a setback in his career, the family lived in anxiety. “Bahut saari cheezein hui in 10 saalon mein, jo hona nahin [chahiye] tha. But, what can we do now... We can’t change what has happened. Das saal nikal gaye, par lagta hai ki jaise sab kal ki baat hai,” she recalls.

While the verdict has come as a relief for her family, Jiah’s mother, Rabiya Khan, has said she will continue to fight and seek justice for her late daughter. Ask Wahab her take on Rabya’s statement and she says, “If she wants to continue fighting, let her do it. She also knows what the truth is. Maloom hone ke baad bhi woh aisa kar rahi hai toh it’s her personal lookout. I don’t have anything to add to that.”

Actor Sooraj Pancholi may have been cleared of charges by the court, but late actor Jiah Khan’s mum, Rabiya, is not ready to end the fight just yet. She is preparing to take the case forward by approaching higher authorities.

“The judgement is not unfair,” Rabiya tells us, and goes on to add: “From day one, I have been saying it (abetment of suicide) is a wrong charge to put. They should have framed charges under [IPC] Section 302 (punishment for murder). Now, the path is clear for me to take my fight forward.”

Jiah was found dead in her Mumbai home on June 3, 2013. A six-page suicide note recovered spoke about “physical abuse, mental and physical torture” allegedly at the hands of Sooraj.

“Suicide nahin toh kya? Who killed her is the question the court and the prosecutor should be asking. My daughter was not one to get influenced. She was not a weak person. They (court) took 10 years [to reach this verdict] and now, they will make me run for another 10 years fighting the murder case. I am ready to fight till my last breath,” she says, adding that she is disappointed with the agencies that have “made a fool of people”.

Rabiya has already started putting together the necessary paperwork to appeal to the higher court. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get my baby justice. It is their job to find out who killed my daughter. They must have thought I would get tired after a 10-year fight. But, I am not tired. I will fight. I have been saying that my child was murdered. Now, the court has got the suicide angle out of the park, which brings clarity to me,” she says.

Rabiya goes on to reveal that people don’t look at her as a mother fighting for the justice of her daughter, but someone who is avenging Jiah’s death.

“I am not so big that I will do all this (seek revenge). I just want to get justice for my daughter. People look at me as a criminal, not a mother who is fighting for her kid. I just hope I get the strength to continue, which I get from seeing how Jiah continues to be loved and remembered,” she mentions.

On Sooraj, Rabiya says: “I feel bad for him. Mujhe sirf taras hi aata hai, thinking what a waste of life, talent, youth and everything.”

Mumbai: Calling actor Jiah Khan, who died by suicide 10 years ago, a “victim of her sentiments”, a special court on Friday acquitted her then boyfriend, actor Sooraj Pancholi, of the charge of abetting her suicide.

Twenty-five-year-old Jiah, a US citizen, was found hanging in her Juhu house on June 3, 2013. The court doubted the suicide note, which her mother, Rabiya, said on June 7 that her other daughter had found in Jiah’s wallet. It also said Rabiya could not explain the delay in lodging a complaint.

“No doubt it is an unfortunate incident that the young girl has committed suicide. However, the available evidence on record reflects that Jiah was a victim of her sentiments,” said special judge A S Sayyad adding, “she could have always walked out of her relationship”.

The court pointed out the police found no suicide note on June 3. The court said that 80% of Rabiya’s “evidence is full of improvements and contradictions”.

The CBI “miserably failed” to establish the abetment charge and “in the absence of any mens rea (guilty mind)” to show any instigation, it cannot be said Pancholi drove Jiah to suicide, said the judge.

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Mumbai: Acquitting actor Sooraj Pancholi of the charge of abetment to suicide of his girlfriend Jiah Khan 10 years ago, the CBI court said her mother was the “main and crucial witness” but “80% evidence of complainant is full of improvements and contradictions”.

Special judge A S Sayyad said, “The complainant in her evidence went to the extent to state that whatever letter (was) sent for examination… the handwriting therein was of her. The complainant by stating as such herself created chaos regarding said letter (suicide note).”

The Juhu police had arrested Pancholi, then 21, on June 10, 2013. The son of yesteryear actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab stayed in custody till the Bombay high court granted him bail on July 1.

A clean-shaven Pancholi, in olive green shirt, trousers and sneakers, appeared calm as he stepped in the dock on Friday. Addressing him, the judge said: “Due to paucity of evidence, you have been held not guilty. You are acquitted.”

Wahab, who was in court, had tears. Wiping them, she told TOI with folded hands: “I thank God.” As the verdict was pushed back to 12:30 pm, the former actor had sat stoically on a bench, playing a popular game on her phone. Besides Pancholi, his defence counsel Prashant Patil, Rabiya and her counsel Shekhar Jagtap, the court room was packed with mediapersons and law interns.

Rabiya later told TOI that she would appeal the verdict as it was always her case that it “was murder”. The CBI, through prosecutor Manoj Chelladan, examined 22 witnesses in a bid to prove abetment. Pancholi’s lawyer Patil argued the agency had failed and none of the witnesses had pointed fingers at Pancholi, entitling him to be let off.

Accepting Patil’s plea and citing SC rulings on section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide), the judgment said testing the evidence on the touchstone of the requirements laid down by the SC to prove instigation, “it will have to be held that the prosecution has utterly failed to produce sufficient and cogent, dependable evidence establish the ingredients”.

On a message that Jiah received and the prosecution relied on to prove abetment, the court said it showed there was misunderstanding between Jiah and Pancholi over Pancholi meeting a woman friend. Moreover, it is “noteworthy” though Rabiya knew of differences in the relationship, “she never complained before anyone”.

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Actor Sooraj Pancholi was acquitted of abetment charges on Friday in the Jiah Khan suicide case, nearly 10 after the 25-year-old’s death on June 3, 2013, made national headlines. “Due to paucity of evidence, this court can’t hold you (Sooraj Pancholi) guilty, hence acquitted,” said Special Judge AS Sayyed of the Special CBI Court, while delivering the verdict.

The acquittal will hopefully end a troubled chapter in the life of the embattled actor, who was dating Jiah at the time of her suicide and has faced a decade of public outrage and hostility. Sooraj was accompanied in court by mother Zarina Wahab and a few friends. While there was a media frenzy outside the court, Sooraj looked relatively calm as the verdict was read out. Zarina, though, could not hold back her tears as she stood with folded hands. Mother and son headed to Siddhivinayak Temple afterwards.

Sooraj’s lawyer Prashant Patil said, “None of the judgments since 2013 has gone against Sooraj Pancholi. The matter was investigated by the CBI and Mumbai Police and no evidence was found against Sooraj. It’s easy to make allegations in the media, but to provide evidence is important; 22 witnesses in the case spoke against the abetment theory.”

Sooraj had been charged with abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.

Jiah’s mother Rabiya arrived in Mumbai from London on Friday morning. Speaking to us after the court’s verdict, she said, “Abetment to suicide was a wrong charge. For the last 10 years, I have been giving evidence and telling the CBI that there are loopholes in the investigation. Jiah’s real cause of death has not been established till date. If it was not abetment, what was it? I have been saying that my child was murdered,” adding, “I will speak to my legal team and take necessary steps. The verdict wasn’t a shock, it was predictable. I was not hoping for any miracle today.”

Rabiya’s lawyer Shekhar Jagtap said, “We may have lost the battle, but the war is still on. The court has acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence. We need to read the judgment and then take appropriate steps.”

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The six-page suicide note allegedly written by actress Jiah Khan, due to which a case of abetment of suicide was registered against actor Sooraj Pancholi, turned out to be a factor that resulted in a special CBI court acquitting him on Friday. Pancholi’s advocate, Prashant Patil, claimed that the note was not written by the deceased.

He also stated it was found inside a diary three to four days after the alleged suicide occurred, on June 3, 2013.

Jiah Khan’s mother, Rabiya Khan, addressing the media outside the sessions court on Friday, said, “I have always said that this not a suicide but a case of murder and this verdict further strengthens my claims. I will move the higher court to challenge this order.”

Patil, who claimed that the suicide note and other evidence were planted to “suppress the truth that Jiah Khan was suffering from depression”, has also stated that the forensic report has confirmed that the handwriting in the diary matched that of the suicide note and that the writer of both is the same.

He told mid-day, “Rabiya Khan had testified before the court that this was not a suicide note. Secondly, when the police raided the premises on the day of the suicide, they didn’t find any note. Four days after the incident, somebody came up with the note and it was given to the media, not the police. The note does not mention anybody’s name nor was it signed or addressed to anyone. According to the CBI, the so-called suicide note was seized from a diary. The opinion of handwriting experts is that the author of the diary and the suicide note are the same. During the trial, the prime witness (Rabiya Khan) admitted that the handwriting in the diary is hers. Thus, the suicide note theory and the entire case against my client falls flat.”

He added, “While being cross-examined before the court, Rabia Khan stated that dairy belonged to her. My client spent 22 days in prison and for the past ten years, he has been waiting for justice. Now, justice has prevailed.”

Asked if the writing on the note was ever matched with that of Jiah Khan, Patil said, “The mother never provided her natural handwriting, saying that it was not available with her.”

The advocate further alleged, “Since day one, there has been a modus operandi to suppress the truth and the CBI has never examined two important witnesses. The first is the doctor, who according to the CBI and police, treated Jiah when she had attempted suicide. He had said that she was depressed and had tried to end her life. The second important witness is Moin Beig who helped Jiah’s mother cool the body on the day of the incident. They were not examined because they would have said the truth and the prosecution’s case would have been damaged.”

On Friday, the court pronounced its verdict at 12:30 pm while Pancholi was present inside the courtroom and was later called to the witness box. Special Judge A S Sayyed told Pancholi, “Due to the paucity of the evidence, this court can’t hold you guilty and hence you have been acquitted.”

Pancholi then smiled at his mother, Zarina Wahab, who was present and in tears. She thanked God when reporters inside the courtroom sought a reaction.

Patil, after walking out of the courtroom, said, “For the past ten years, not a single order of high court, special court and the Supreme Court has gone against Sooraj Pancholi. The case was being investigated by India’s two premier agencies, the CBI and the Mumbai Police, and despite that, there is not a single shred of evidence against Pancholi. Twenty-two witnesses were examined and nothing was found against him. It is easy to make allegations in the media but when the evidence comes on record, no one can travel beyond that and the law is above everyone and the court has today acquitted him.”

Terming mental health issues a concern, Patil, said, “The government has introduced the Mental Healthcare Act in 2017 because youngsters are facing depression and anxiety. One of the crux of the argument before the court was [that in the case of] any person who unfortunately commits suicide, a single incident cannot be a triggering point. You have to understand and investigate the economic, social and cultural background of the person since childhood and in this case, we have brought the journey of the deceased since her childhood before the court and some serious incidences have come on record. Three of four incidents were very serious and we assume that because of this, she had no option but to commit suicide.”

He stated that Jiah Khan had attempted to die by suicide prior to June 3. “We told the court if the deceased has suicidal tendencies, why was Sooraj Pancholi falsely implicated and it was a one-sided mala fide targeted investigation,” he said.

Before the court passed its order, Rabiya Khan moved an application before it, stating that there were various discrepancies in the investigation carried out by both agencies. According to the application, they are non-analysis of the deceased’s devices, non-analysis of the ligature found around the deceased, non-analysis of the ligature mark, non-retrieval of the BBM messages between the deceased and accused and lack of mention of the injury marks on the deceased in the post-mortem report.”

The application reads, “It is submitted that the conclusion of the medical evidence also states that death by suicide cannot be ruled out but it is necessary to examine the ligature, however till date, the same was never done, which itself indicates that a proper, impartial, fair and transparent investigation is not done till date.”

Rabiya Khan also stated that both investigating agencies had not collected legal evidence or proof to say this was a mere case of suicide and the first informant believes it is a murder case and the accused is responsible for killing her daughter.

Jiah, 25, a United States resident, was found dead in her Juhu home. On the basis of the letter, the police arrested Pancholi on June 10 and charged him with abetting her suicide. The Mumbai Police, who initially looked into the issue, seized a letter that the CBI claimed was authored by Jiah Khan. According to the central agency, the message detailed Jiah Khan’s alleged “intimate relationship, physical abuse, and mental and physical torture” at the hands of Pancholi.

Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan, a significant witness for the prosecution, told the court that she thought it was a case of murder rather than suicide. She had petitioned the Bombay High Court for a further probe into the matter, but it was denied last year.

Pancholi released a statement after the verdict that read, “The verdict has taken 10 long painful years and sleepless nights. Today, I have not only won this case against me but I have also won my dignity and confidence back. It took a lot of courage to face the world with such heinous allegations. I hope and pray to God that nobody goes through what I have gone through at such a young age. I don’t know who will give me these 10 years of my life back, but I am glad that this has finally come to an end not only for me but especially for my family. There is nothing bigger than peace in this world.”

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“The truth always wins,” wrote actor Sooraj Pancholi on his Instagram Story after he was acquitted in the Jiah Khan death case. On Friday, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai gave its verdict in connection with the death of Khan. Pancholi, 32, accused of abetting the suicide of the actor, who he was in a relationship with, was acquitted in the case.

“Due to paucity of evidence, this court can’t hold you (Sooraj Pancholi) guilty, hence acquitted,” said Judge AS Sayyed. Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan told CNN News18 that Pancholi was cleared only of abetment of suicide. “This is a case of murder,” she said, adding that she intends to pursue the case further.

Pancholi’s mother actor Zarina Wahab who had accompanied him to the court, told a portal: “Satyamev Jayate. [My faith in the judiciary] has been further strengthened. It has been ten years of torture, trauma and stigma for my son.” After the verdict, Pancholi thanked the media for supporting him and distributed sweets to those present. HTC

The Nishabd (2007) actor dies by suicide. She is 25.

A letter purportedly written by Jiah, seized by the police, details her trouble relationship with Pancholi and alleges physical and mental abuse at his hands.

Booking Pancholi under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of IPC, Mumbai Police arrest the actor.

Pancholi is granted bail and on the next day, the court acquits him, stating the actor is not accountable for Khan’s death.

CBI raids the Pancholi residence after Khan’s mother requests the court for a thorough investigation.

CBI officials rule out murder and state that the actor died by suicide.

Rabiya Khan pens an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking justice.

A special CBI court pronounces its final verdict, acquitting Pancholi.

Rabiya Khan, Jiah Khan’s mother, speaks with media persons outside the court. Pics/Anurag Ahire

It was a personal tragedy — the mysterious death of his fiancée, celebrity manager Disha Salian, after reportedly falling from their 12th-floor flat in Malad, on the intervening night of June 8 and 9, 2020 — that put model-actor Rohan Rai in the spotlight. The unfortunate incident triggered a series of controversies and conspiracy theories, some of which even held him responsible for it. He quit social media and disappeared from the public eye.

Now, after more than two years, he is ready to start afresh. In this interview, he talks about Disha’s sudden death, how his world turned upside down, moving on since then and his friendship with actress Sheen Dass. Excerpts…

I was in Mumbai for a while to complete the police proceedings. Then I left with Disha’s parents for my father’s hometown, Gandhidham, in December 2020 and returned to Mumbai three months later. We wanted to be away from the noise around her demise. People were writing and showing on TV just about anything to grab eyeballs, without realizing how much it affected Disha’s family, mine, and me.

Disha was an extremely sensitive person. Back then, she was quite stressed about work and was under tremendous pressure after two of her deals fell through. She was an animal lover, too, and I remember that her condition was further triggered by the news of a pregnant elephant in Kerala, who had died after eating a pineapple filled with firecrackers on May 27. She was inconsolable. We lived together at her parents’ home in Dadar.

On June 4, I suggested that we go to our apartment in Malad, thinking that a change of environment would help her. In any case, we were planning to shift there after marriage. We were joined by four of our friends to cheer her up. For two-three days, we kept drinking. Disha had mixed her drinks, which she shouldn’t have because it used to leave her in a bad state. Her last call was to her school friend in London. Everything happened within five minutes.

I took the phone from Disha to talk to her friend, while she went to the master bedroom. A few minutes later, I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Since the door wasn’t locked, I opened it and saw some alcohol spilled over the bed. I assumed that she was changing her clothes in the bathroom and went back. A few minutes later, a friend and I knocked again. On getting no answer, I rushed into the bathroom but she wasn’t there. We searched the entire flat and started getting worried. We once again went inside the master bedroom and started checking the wardrobes as well. By this time, all of us were in a state of panic.

That’s when I noticed that the window in the master bedroom was open. When I looked down from there, I first recognized her pyjamas on the ground. I was zapped and asked my friend, ‘Kya hai yeh?’ I went into denial and started slapping myself. It felt like a bad dream. Then I stood on the parapet thinking that I would also jump. My friends pulled me back.

Soon, the police also arrived. They asked me to remove my clothes to examine my body for any fight marks and also searched the house. Some of our friends rushed Disha to the hospital. The first two hospitals denied entry, and the third one that agreed to admit her declared her dead on arrival.

Back then, I would frequently have anxiety attacks. Disha and I were together for seven years. We lived at her parents’ home in Dadar and had a roka ceremony in 2018. After what happened, it was difficult for me to sleep, but waking up was tougher as everything felt like a bad dream. A lot of people told me that I need to look for an alternative career following the social media backlash. A friend then reminded me that the dream to become an actor wasn’t just mine, even Disha wanted it to happen. It has been difficult to accept that she is no more. About a year ago, I wasn’t even able to talk about it, but I have now realized that I will have to face it. Music is my solace. I play instruments, and that has helped me to recover to an extent.

It was terrifying. I would receive thousands of nasty messages, threats and abuses. My friends also received many crude messages, and they would cry on the phone. I felt helpless and deactivated all my social media handles in September 2020. I rejoined only in May last year. Back then, Sooraj Pancholi’s name also surfaced and it was rumoured that Disha was pregnant with his child. A picture of him with some girls started doing the rounds and some claimed that one of them was Disha, which wasn’t true. All this was happening while we were grieving Disha. I have suffered for no fault of mine.

Disha used to work for an agency and Sushant was one of their clients. She never managed him directly but had worked on two of his ad films at the behest of her colleagues. She had her own set of clients in the agency.

There was a time when I used to do 40 ads in a year. But, in the last two years, I shot just 12 ads and one film. A show on a streaming platform slipped out of my hands and I couldn’t fathom the reason. I didn’t have the courage to ask them either. But when I was dropped from a film, I was shattered and cried. You can’t take away everything from me. Every producer would ask me if I was facing any legal hassle and seek a written undertaking. I then decided to take a year-long break from acting. I have started to work on myself and I am grateful that things have started to fall into place again. I have done a few ad campaigns and have restarted script writing. I have also set up an animal welfare trust along with Disha’s mom.

Absolutely. They are my parents, too. They have loved me like their own son. All of us have faced a terrible loss. Also, Disha’s father has been having a lot of health issues. He is recovering now. I live in our Malad flat, as that was set up by Disha and me. I keep visiting aunty and uncle in Dadar.

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Sheen and I acted together in the TV show Piyaa Albela (2017-2018). We were on cordial terms back then. In October last year, we had a reunion and met again. We share many common interests and during our conversations, I realised that Sheen, too, is passionate about animal welfare. When I told her about Disha’s dream project, she expressed a desire to be a part of it. She even met Disha’s mom during one of the welfare programmes we had organised in September last year. Our friendship grew stronger and it reached a stage where I could speak my heart out about everything that happened. She was the only person whom I could confide in, and the way she has helped me pull myself together, I feel she is Godsend. We are extremely close and are looking forward to a fulfilling companionship.

Mumbai: Bombay High Court has slammed Rabiya Khan, mother of late actress Jiah Khan, for filing repeated proceedings, saying she is procrastinating the trial that is going on.

On June 3, 2013, Rabiya had found Jiah hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom. Rabiya insisted Jiah was murdered. Actor Sooraj Pancholi is being tried for abetment to Jiah’s suicide. Rabiya (62) moved HC after the CBI court rejected her plea for further probe by an SIT into her daughter’s death. On September 12 Justices Ajay Gadkari and Milind Jadhav dismissed her appeal.

“The entire approach of the petitioner appears to be to procure an order from this court, without facing trial, that the death of the victim was homicidal and not suicidal. This kind of approach appears to circumvent the due process of law,” the judges said in the reasoned order.

Rabiya wanted BlackBerry phones of Jiah and Sooraj to be sent to the FBI to recover messages that had been deleted.

“We also fail to understand as to how this (High) Court gets jurisdiction for directing the FBI in the United States which is one of the reliefs sought by the petitioner in the present petition,” they added.

They had “repeatedly” asked Khan’s advocate Shekhar Jagtap “but he failed to address us on this aspect.”

The judges pointed out that Rabiya’s repeated insistence “is a clear indication of procrastinating the trial, especially when her substantive rights have not been foreclosed.”

The judges refused to countenance “a legal review report” by the UK-based law firm SCARMANS that alleged discrepancies/lacunae in CBI’s investigation. “We are aghast and shocked to read the said report....this report attempts to deliver a verdict even before the trial is over,’’ they said, that it contains adverse comments on high court orders/judgment.

“Rule of law is prevalent in our country and we do not have the slightest doubt that the trial court shall deliver its verdict without fear or favour whilst adhering to the due process of law,’’ the judges added. The judges also mentioned that investigation has shown Jiah’s death was “suicide and not homicidal.”

“Prima facie it does appear that a totally impartial, fair and transparent investigation is made by the CBI in a thorough manner,” they noted.

The judges were inclined to saddle Rabiya with exemplary costs but refrained from doing so.

Mumbai: Actor Sooraj Pancholi has opposed Rabiya Khan’s petition in the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh probe into her actor-daughter Jiah Khan’s death, saying she is trying to delay the trial which is nearing its end, reports Rosy Sequeira.

The trial began on January 1, 2018, and 16 witnesses have been examined. Rabiya’s cross-examination is on. “The trial is at its fag-end and if the present petition is allowed, there will be complete miscarriage of justice. The sole intention of the petitioner is to delay the trial by filing frivolous and baseless petitions/applications,” his reply said.

Rabiya, 62, who claims Jiah was murdered, moved the HC after the CBI court in September 2021 rejected her plea for an SIT for further investigations. On June 3, 2013, she found Jiah hanging from the ceiling fan. Pancholi is being tried for abetment to Jiah’s suicide.

Stating that there has been “no change in circumstances” since the HC’s February 2017 order dismissing her third petition for further probe, Pancholi urged dismissal of Rabiya’s latest petition relying on a May 2019 review report of a UK law firm. Her advocate is associated with the firm and therefore the report “is not independent”.

Mumbai: Rabiya Khan, a witness in the alleged suicide of her actress daughter Jiah Khan, said on Monday the CBI had edited the statement she had given it in 2014. Actor Sooraj Pancholi is accused of abetting the 2013 suicide.

Cross-examining Rabiya, Pancholi’s lawyer Prashant Patil asked, “You said before the CBI that your statement to Juhu police was shown, that you went through it and it was correct?” Rabiya replied that she had not stated so.

She said she had given the CBI a 26-page statement and it was edited by an officer. “He put his own statement. (This) portion is not correctly stated in it. The beginning is correct. I wrote a statement and sent it to him by email and he put it. I have not said the statement has been read over to me and is correct,” Rabiya said.

Patil also asked her about certain traumatic incidents that reportedly took place when Jiah was a minor. When he suggested that due to the incidents, Jiah had suffered from childhood trauma, she denied it and said highlighting them “is hurting my sentiments”.

Meanwhile, the UK-based Rabiya wanted to move a plea to re-examine the alleged dupatta that was used in the suicide and shown to her last week. She said she was uncertain and felt she didn’t it see it properly. The prosecution opposed any such move.

Patil posed several questions about various litigations and pleas moved by Rabiya, her personal life, including her film career, marriages, Jiah’s childhood and her relationship with her father. Rabiya submitted that a lawyer who had represented her during Sooraj’s bail hearing in 2013 was a fake. “I heard about it later because he sold his soul,” she said.

While the matter will come up for hearing next week, Rabiya’s cross-examination has been deferred to a later date.

Mumbai: A scientific officer of CFSL, a clinical psychologist, who had conducted a forensic psychological assessment on actor Sooraj Pancholi, told the special CBI court that the interview given by him to her seemed to be incomplete and fabricated on relevant issues indicating that he was concealing relevant information about actual reasons behind the alleged suicide of his girlfriend, actor Jiah Khan.

Sooraj is currently facing trial on charges of abetting the 2013 suicide. In her cross-examination by defence advocate Prashant Patil, while the witness admitted that she had given her final opinion based only on the 12 questions given to her by the investigating officer, she denied that her assessment was false and fabricated to support the CBI. “It is not correct to say that I finalised the said report after confirmation with the investigating officer,” the witness said.

During her examination in chief by special public prosecutor Manoj Chaladan, the witness said that during the interview conducted at the CSFL office in 2015 she had asked Sooraj whether he was hiding the actual content of the last conversation as the breakdown of the relationship could not develop in a single day.

“On that question he gave evasive response and became silent with bent head. Sooraj Pancholi was hiding details of last conservation with Nafisa or Zia (sic), that may be caused her death or suicide,” the witness said. She said since it was very important to know Jiah’s state of mind before the incident, she asked Sooraj about his last conservation with her.

During her cross examination by Patil the woman said that she came to know from Sooraj that Jiah had suffered childhood trauma and in response to a separate query accepted that if a mental health patient is not treated on time, the situation may aggravate. She also accepted that to know one’s “psychological state of mind” their childhood trauma and their relationship with immediate blood relative was important. “The investigating officer has not recommended to me to conduct the examination of the mother and sister of deceased,” the woman said.

The woman told the court that “Forensic Psychological Assessment” is a useful technique of psychological evaluation and helps the examiner find out whether a person is guilty or not. The woman, the 15th prosecution witness who said she had assisted CBI in over 1,000 matters, had examined letters and notes allegedly written by Jiah.

Referring to one letter allegedly written by Jiah to Sooraj, the witness in her deposition before special judge AS Sayyad said through the letter she thanked and apologized to him. Pointing to another letter, she said “From the contents of the document that, 'I know you are young and I am very sensitive', would reflect the deceased was sensitive nature. ”

Mumbai: Narrating events leading to the moment she found her daughter, actor Jiah Khan (25), dead in their Juhu home and moments after, Rabiya Khan told the special CBI court on Thursday that when she screamed out saying that she had repeatedly told her eldest child to stay away from her boyfriend, actor Sooraj Pancholi, her friend, actor Anju Mahendru told her to not take his name. “His father (actor Aditya Pancholi) is connected to underworld and has political clout and is very dangerous. They will do something to you,” Rabiya quoted Mahendroo as warning her.

On the second day of her examination in chief by special public prosecutor Manoj Chaladan, Rabiya said this happened moments after Aditya Pancholi walked into the house, fell at her feet, apologized and said, “Sorry, my son has ruined his life…career…Jiah was a child.”

Rabiya iterated that Jiah had not died by suicide but was murdered. “Both agencies (CBI and city police) never collected any legal evidence to prove it was a case of suicide. I believe it is a murder and the accused is responsible for killing my daughter,” she submitted in her deposition.

Rabiya broke down in court multiple times. She said that a couple of hours before she found Jiah dead, she had overheard a phone conversation where Sooraj was shouting at her.

During the hearing, Rabiya identified clothes Jiah wore when she found her body, and the muslin dupatta used in the alleged suicide. She also alleged that her two daughters had found a letter left by Jiah and “discovered all the grievance and pain that Jiah had expressed which was directly pointing to Sooraj.”

“We saw on the screen of the phone (Jiah’s) there were many text messages and many missed phone calls… We read messages on the screen and it was filled with anger with abusive language. . ” she said.

Pancholi’s lawyer is likely to cross-examine Rabiya on Monday.

On June 3, 2013, Jiah was found hanging in her Juhu flat, after which Sooraj was arrested and charged with abet-ment. He was later given bail.

During deposition before special judge A S Sayyad, Rabiya iterated alleged instances where she suspected Jiah was being abused in the relationship and Sooraj was allegedly “manipulative”. She spoke about frequents fights between Jiah and Sooraj, Aditya Pancholi’s alleged disapproval of the relationship and how Sooraj’s mentor Salman Khan did not have any objection to the relationship. Rabiya also submitted that in May, Sooraj came to her and told her how he wanted space from a “depressed” Jiah as he was starting work soon. She denied that Jiah was depressed.

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.