The CBI on Wednesday opposed the application filed by Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi seeking directions for the investigating agency to return his passport and allow him to travel abroad to fulfil his professional commitment. The court has posted this matter for hearing on Thursday as the CBI sought time to file a written reply to the application.

Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, on behalf of the CBI, told Justice Mridula Bhatkar that the CBI was in principle opposed to actor’s application but it wants time to file its reply. He argued, “We have strong objection to the return of his passport permanently. There is a separate petition filed by the victim Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan here seeking the applicant (Sooraj) to be charged under Section 302 of IPC for murdering Jiah Khan.”

He further told the court that Ms Rabiya has also sought FBI probe in the case. “In such circumstances it would not be advisable to return the passport permanently to the accused,” argued advocate Venegaonkar.

On the other hand, the judge was of the opinion that since the incident has taken place in India, the court is entitled to pass order in this regard. The judge then asked the CBI to file an affidavit in reply on Thursday.

Jiah’s mother Rabiya wanted to intervene in this petition, the court, however, refused to grant her permission to intervene. The judge clarified that she would not allow intervention application of complainant in an application which is filed seeking return of passport.

Jiah’s body was found hanging from ceiling fan in he flat at suburban Juhu on June 3, 2013. The police and CBI in their chargesheet have held Sooraj responsible for driving Jiah to commit suicide, but Rabiya is claiming that Jiah was murdered and has approached the Bombay high court seeking investigation by SIT.

Her petition will be heard in due course.