Not Saying I Am Innocent: Sooraj Pancholi on Jiah Khan Case

The actor has been accused of abetment to the suicide of Jiah Khan

Actor Sooraj Pancholi has been accused of abetting the suicide of Jiah Khan.

(Photo Courtesy: Yogen Shah; Facebook)

Actor Sooraj Pancholi, who has been accused of abetment to the suicide of Jiah Khan, blames the media for portraying him wrongfully without knowing the truth. Sooraj claimed in an interview with IANS,

“Not even five per cent of what the media has written about me till date is true. They have heard the story only from one side. They have never heard my version, because I never claimed I am innocent to gain people’s sympathy.”

Sooraj Pancholi, Actor

He further said: “I only want the truth to come out and the media cannot give me that. Media can't get me justice, only the court can give me that. So, I have been waiting for the court to take the decision and a lot of time has elapsed. This is my career, my bread and butter. So, I have to speak out because what is happening is wrong.”

Aditya Pancholi's son Sooraj was charged with abetment to suicide after the death of his former girlfriend, actress Jiah Khan, who was found hanging in her Mumbai apartment in June 2013. Jiah's mother Rabiya Khan had accused Sooraj of murdering her.

“It has been very disturbing. Not only for me but also for my family, because if anybody puts an allegation on you it is not so easy to prove yourself innocent,” he said.

The 28-year-old actor claims the trial is not happening because Jiah Khan's family is not turning up in court.

“People who had filed the case against me are not turning up in court. On top of that, the media has created a perception that I am a bad guy, without knowing the facts. If I am going to the court every time and the complainants are not turning up for the trial, that itself is a reply not only to the court but also to the people who are thinking that I am the bad guy,” he said.

Sooraj Pancholi, Actor

Referring to Rabiya Khan, he said,

“I was young. I didn’t even know what was happening. I am not saying I am innocent. Say, I am the bad guy, say I am the worst guy, then why won’t you turn up in court? It has been seven years. Just because you own a British passport, you think you can do anything?”

Sooraj Pancholi

Emphasising that he wants the trial to happen, the actor said: “You are not only ruining one person's life, you are ruining a family. This is very unfair. I pray to God that this ends soon because I don't have the time to sit and wait. In the history of India, I am the only person who has said that please run my trial. Nobody, no accused ever says that. The court is also ready but my trial hasn't started yet.”

Sooraj Pancholi made his Bollywood debut with Hero in 2015. He is back with his new film, the action drama Satellite Shankar. On the gap of four years between the two films, the actor says he was waiting for the right script. “I heard a lot of scripts after 'Hero' but did not get that wow feel. It was more of a package comprising four songs, four action sequences etc. I did not want to do that because I was looking for a story in a real kind of space. Then, of course, I had personal difficulties in life. So, I put a hold to my career because I had to sort things out. I think good things take time, and now I am here.”