Jiah Khan case: Had given new leads to the CBI, says actress' mother

"Mumbai Police botched the entire case. My daughter was subjected to cruelty and this has now come up in the evidence in the CBI findings. I will be present in court tomorrow (Friday)," said Rabiya Khan, Jiah's mother, who flew to Mumbai on December 6.

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Rabiya Khan says she has faith in the CBI

Speaking to mid-day from a friend's apartment in the Western suburbs, an emotional Rabiya said, "I cannot stay alone at my Juhu house a day before the matter comes before the court, so I am staying at my friend's place."

When asked if she was aware of the CBI submitting a summary report, Rabiya replied in the negative, stating that "I was in touch with the investigating CBI officer from the UK, and my original plan was to come next week. However, the officer wanted me to return earlier."

Rabiya added that the special crime officer of CBI from CBD-Belapur, during the course of the investigation, had laid hands on clinching evidence of Sooraj's (Pancholi) cruel act of extricating the foetus as her daughter bled. "How cruel could one be? If he can do this, he can even kill my daughter," claimed Rabiya.

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She further added that while in the UK, she had received phone calls from a particular person based in Mumbai, who had claimed to have some videographic evidence of that night (June 3, 2013) when her daughter was found dead. The person claimed that he intended to share the video footage as he knew Jiah and wanted her soul to rest in peace.

Rabiya added that she forwarded these details and the contact number of the said person to the investigating CBI officer. However, nothing much was revealed to her by the officer when she last spoke to him.

Rabiya further added that the CBI officer could also retrieve the last mobile message that Jiah had sent to her sister Kavita, who was to board a flight from UK to Mumbai that night. Jiah's message read, "I am excited that you are coming, we will have fun together." Also, Jiah had all plans put in place until June 24, 2013, when she wanted to be with Kavita in Mumbai for her (Kavita's) birthday.

"If Jiah had planned to kill herself then why would she chalk down all her meetings and shooting plans well in advance," asked Rabiya. "I will stand by what I have said. I knew my daughter very well. She had had affairs before. She had boyfriends staying with her, and, as an adult, she could make decisions for herself. But since she got into a relationship with Sooraj, she always seemed terrified and under pressure."

When asked if she was aware of Jiah's pregnancy before the CBI narrated these facts, Rabiya replied in the negative. When asked if she was satisfied with the CBI findings, she said, "I will go through the papers that the CBI has submitted in the court and discuss the matter with my lawyers before I decide my future plans. I have to trust some agency (CBI) that can give justice to me and Jiah as the Mumbai police did nothing other than hushing up crucial evidence. Also, it is learnt through CBI, that the investigating officer in the case was a junior officer who was taking instructions from his superior."

Also Read: Sooraj Pancholi opens up on Jiah Khan incident, says time is the biggest healer

Rabiya also visited the Santacruz burial ground where Jiah's mortal remains have been interred and has arranged for a special prayer meeting at her Juhu residence today, between 4 and 6 pm.

When contacted, advocate Dinesh Tiwari, who is the special public prosecutor in the case, said, "The matter would come up before court no 39 on Friday morning, and only after going through the submission by the CBI before the court, will the matter be decided for trial."

Meanwhile, Rabiya hinted that she has shown the documents and photographs pertaining to Jiah's death to an independent forensic expert in the UK, who has also supported the homicide angle given by Dr RK Sharma, former head of the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS, New Delhi.