Jiah death: CBI searches residence of Aditya Pancholi

CBI today carried out searches at the residences of film actor Aditya Pancholi and his son Sooraj Pancholi in connection with the mysterious death of actor Jiah Khan, who was found hanging at her residence on June 3, 2013.

Two teams of the agency raided the residences of Pancholi and his son here, CBI sources said, however refused to share more information on the search operation which continued till late evening.

After the death of the 25-year old actor, who featured in movies like "Nishabd", her family alleged it was not a suicide.

The case had come to CBI last year following the orders of the Bombay High Court which had directed the agency to probe whether the death was suicide or homicide on plea of Jiah's mother Rabia.

"The High Court has directed the CBI 'to consider whether this is a case of suicidal or homicidal death. If it comes to a conclusion that it is a homicidal death, then further investigation be made to find out who is the perpetrator of the crime and accordingly action be taken.'," CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad had said here after registration of the case.

She said Mumbai Police have already filed a charge sheet on January 11, 2014 against a person under section 306 (abatement of suicide) of IPC.

Explaining the reasons for transferring the case to CBI, the bench had said forensic opinion privately obtained by Khan's mother Rabia were at variance with those of Mumbai police, suggesting there was a "lacuna" in the investigation.

Jiah, the 25-year-old British-American actress, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home in Juhu on June 3, 2013. Her relationship with newbie actor Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zareena Wahab, was said to be under strain and it was suspected that it drove her to end her life.