SC asks HC to decide plea for SIT probe into Jiah Khan's death

 The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Bombay High Court to decide expeditiously on a plea for an SIT probe into the death of actor Jiah Khan.

A vacation bench of Justices A M Sapre and Ashok Bhushan, however, refused to stay the trial court proceedings against Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi in the case relating to the death of the actress on June 10, 2013.

Rabia Khan, the mother of the deceased, sought stay on the lower court proceedings, contending that the CBI concurred with the finding of the Mumbai police that it was a suicide and not homicidal death.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for her submitted that the CBI, due to reasons best know to them, has been vehemently opposing the appointment of special public prosecutor in the case by Maharashtra government.

“The trial in the lower court is not proceeding in a proper manner and there is the likelihood of accused (Sooraj) being discharged in the case,” the counsel claimed.

He said that investigation be handed over to the SIT as CBI has also in its charge-sheet said that the death was not homicidal despite forensic evidence suggesting otherwise.

The bench, on its part, asked Rabia to approach Bombay High Court with her fresh application.

The apex court directed the High Court to hear Rabia's plea expeditiously on June 7, the date already fixed in the case.

Earlier, the Bombay HC had refused to extend the stay granted on trial against actor Sooraj. The high court had on February 25 stayed the trial against Sooraj.