Saturday, April 12, 2014

Jian Khan: India; Deceased woman's mother alleges police covered reached suicide verdict to cover up murder; The mother claims police disregarded the opinion of a forensic expert she retained who concluded that the physical evidence was inconsistent with suicide. India.com.


STORY: "Jian Khan suicide case: HC (High Court) questions police over incomplete charge sheet," published by India.com on March 28, 2014.

GIST: "The Bombay High Court today asked Juhu police to explain why it had not included in the charge sheet the text of SMS messages and number of telephone calls received by actor Jiah Khan minutes before her death. The Court was hearing a petition filed by Rabia Khan, mother of Jiah, demanding a probe by Special Investigating Team or CBI into the actor’s death as she suspected that it was a case of murder and not suicide......... In October 2013, Rabia had filed a petition seeking CBI probe but did not press for it as the High Court had asked police to record her statement and probe as if it was a case of murder. The police had probed on these lines and filed a chargesheet saying it was a suicide case and charged actor Suraj Pancholi, Jiah’s boyfriend, for abetment of suicide. Senior Counsel Mahesh Jethmalani, on behalf of Rabia, argued that he was asking for a fair and transparent probe. ”The police have made out a case as if Jiah was a maniac and in depression and hence she committed suicide. But, circumstances point out that this could be a case of murder,” Jethmalani said. He argued that two days before her death, Jiah had returned from Hyderabad after bagging a role in a film. It is very unlikely that she would commit suicide. Fifty-year-old Rabia has cited circumstances which point out that Jiah was allegedly killed. The air-conditioner of Jiah’s bedroom was on but windows were open when she was found dead. Also, there is no explanation as to how Jiah reached the ceiling fan to hang herself when there was no stool in house. Blaming Suraj for her daughter’s death, Rabia said she had carried out a sting operation of few witnesses who said in an audio recording that they had not told police what had been recorded in their statements, thereby doubting the police version that Jiah had committed suicide. Rabia, a British citizen, has urged the High Court to direct the Juhu police to give her a copy of histopathology report, a copy of videography held during post mortem, copies of SMS exchanged between Suraj and Jiah and a copy of the call details record of Suraj and his father Aditya Pancholi. Jiah’s mother has also prayed for a direction to the police to provide her with a copy of transcripts of the BBM (Blackberry Messenger services) chat between Suraj and Jiah, copies of details of mobile tower location and allow exhuming Jiah’s body so as to conduct more forensic examinations. She prayed that police may be directed to book Suraj Pancholi with additional charges under IPC including 302 (murder), 323 (voluntary causing grievous hurt) and 376 (rape).........Rabia pointed out that the police had ignored the opinion of a forensic expert sought by her. The expert had opined that the injury mark found on Jiah was circular which is impossible in a case of suicide. The expert had also pointed out that the injury marks were so prominent that the same could not have been possible if a muslin ‘dupatta’ was used in the crime. Also, the injury mark had two prominent outer lines which are running parallel to each other which is possible if a belt was used. Besides, injury marks on the lip, chin hands and the neck of the deceased have not been explained at all......... Jiah’s mother sought action against police officers alleging that they have tried to shield the accused.

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.india.com/showbiz/jiah-khan-suicide-case-hc-questions-police-over-incomplete-chargesheet-29878/


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Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;