MUMBAI: Actress Jiah Khan’s mother told police that her daughter was in a “live-in relationship” for a year with boyfriend Suraj Pancholi who was today remanded in police custody till June 13 by a local court a day after being arrested for allegedly abetting her suicide.
Suraj, son of actor-couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, was arrested last night on the charge of abetting the suicide of the 25-year-old actress who hanged herself at her Juhu residence last Monday.
Suraj was sent in police custody by the court after the prosecution said his interrogation was necessary following allegations of threat, assault and rape levelled against him by the actress in a note found three days after her suicide.
In a new twist to investigations, Jiah’s mother Rabiya told police that the ‘Nishabd’ actress and Suraj were in “live-in relationship” for nearly a year, a senior police officer said.
“Rabiya also told us Jiah was completely shattered when Suraj sent her a ‘break-up’ bouquet. This was one of the reasons behind the young actress’ extreme step. Suraj had promised to marry Jiah,” the officer said.
However, there was no evidence to link Suraj’s actor- father Aditya to the case, the officer added.
Police are also verifying in which hospital the distraught actress had undergone abortion.
Though the note, purportedly written by Jiah, mentioned the word ‘rape’, police are yet to take a decision on slapping the charge of sexual assault against the accused.
Meanwhile, Rabiya tweeted “my daughter had bruises on her jaw. She was hit badly that pushed her to the end path. I wish I was there. How dare he (Suraj) hit her!”
Suraj has been booked under IPC Section 306 (abetment of suicide). His domestic help would again be called for recording of statement to corroborate the evidence gathered by the police in the case.
