Sign in

HC issues notice to Rabia Khan over contempt plea filed by Pancholis

Wahab and Pancholi urged the court to initiate action against Rabia for “continuing to make defamatory statements against them and their son”

Updated on: Jan 27, 2017, 21:33:46 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Mumbai
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

The Bombay high court on Friday issued a notice to Rabia Khan, who is fighting the alleged suicide case of daughter and actor Jiah Khan, over a contempt plea filed by actors Zarina Wahab and Aditya Pancholi.

The plea claims that Rabia’s Twitter account is “followed by more than 3,500 people and she has been passing lewd remarks against the petitioners.” (HT File Photo)
The plea claims that Rabia’s Twitter account is “followed by more than 3,500 people and she has been passing lewd remarks against the petitioners.” (HT File Photo)

Wahab and Pancholi had filed the petition against Rabia in HC in December last year. In their plea, they had urged the court to initiate action against Rabia for “continuing to make defamatory statements against them and their son and actor Sooraj Pancholi.”

They have claimed that though Rabia had earlier made a statement before HC to the effect that she would refrain from commenting upon, or making any adverse statements against Sooraj and his family over his relationship with Jiah, or with references to Jiah’s death, but she “continues to do so through her Twitter account,” and also in her TV interviews.

The plea claims that Rabia’s Twitter account is “followed by more than 3,500 people and she has been passing lewd remarks and using foul and abusive language against the petitioners and their entire family upon various social media sites along with on electronic and print media defaming the reputation and goodwill of the petitioners by such slanderous remarks.”

Jiah Khan was found dead in her flat on June 3, 2013. Sooraj Pancholi was charged with abetment of suicide and arrested 10 days later. While he is currently out on bail, the sessions court is yet to frame charges in the case.

In 2014,Sooraj’s family had filed a defamation case against Rabia and had also sought Rs100 crore as damages.

They claim that at the time, Rabia had given a statement pledging to refrain from making any adverse comments against them, before a single bench of HC.

This is the second contempt plea filed by the Pancholis against her on the same grounds.The notice issued against Rabia Khan on Friday is returnable by February 3 this year.

Read

Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab file contempt case against Jiah Khan’s mother

Court asks CBI to file report on dupatta Jiah Khan used to hang herself

Jiah Khan death: Unable to get call records of Sooraj’s friends, says CBI

  • Ayesha Arvind
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Ayesha Arvind

    Ayesha Arvind is a Senior Assistant Editor specialising in legal and judicial reportage. She covers High Courts and tribunals across southern India, and believes that important legal developments do not only come from New Delhi. Her work focuses on bringing significant decisions and developments from the region to a wider audience and explaining what they mean beyond the courtroom. She tries to make legal material accessible by translating legal jargon into clear, readable prose and putting pleas, lawsuits, judgments and legal developments in context. She also looks at their political realities and practical consequences for people. Ayesha is committed to the standards of integrity journalism requires. She places a premium on accuracy and fairness, and believes that journalism's powerful voice must be tempered by humility and a sense of proportion. Over almost two decades in journalism, she has covered law and order, civil law, crime and other areas of legal affairs. Her work includes breaking news, legal affairs stories, online analysis and commentary. Ayesha is deeply interested in the law, court judgments and the Constitution because they shape everyday life. She believes every citizen should have a basic understanding of them. What she enjoys most about covering courts is that every story brings something new to learn.Read More