Sooraj Pancholi on being acquitted in Jiah Khan’s death case: ‘I have won my dignity and confidence back’

On Friday, a special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi, the prime accused in the alleged suicide of his late girlfriend and actor Jiah Khan.

The verdict ended a decade-long battle for Pancholi, who was charged with accessory after the fact in the case. If the actor is found guilty, Pancholi would be sentenced to 10 years in prison. The actor was accompanied to the hearing by his mother Zarina Wahab.

While the verdict brought relief and joy to Pancholi and his family, it also dashed the hopes of another mother, Rabia Khan, who fought for justice for her daughter's death, claiming she was murdered.

Jiah Khan reportedly took a serious step and took her own life on June 3, 2013 in Mumbai. The 25-year-old actress was an ambitious woman with dreams of making it big in the industry and acted alongside the likes of Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.

However, it all ended after the actress got into a relationship with Pancholi. Khan left behind a six-page suicide note in which he claimed mental and physical abuse. While the actress did not mention Pancholi's name, the letter hinted at her relationship with the actor, who was eventually accused of seduction based on the same.

But it's not over for the relentless mother, who told the media that she will fight until her "last breath" following the court's verdict.Meanwhile, the verdict is a victory for Pancholi, who claims it has earned him his "dignity" and "trust".

"The verdict took 10 long painful years and sleepless nights but today I have not only won this case against myself but also regained my dignity and confidence, it took a lot of courage to face the world with such heinous allegations." I hope and pray to God that no one goes through what I went through at such a young age, I don't know who will give me back those 10 years of my life, but I'm glad that it's finally over, not only for me, but especially for my family There is nothing greater than peace in this world,” the actor said after the verdict.