The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR in the nearly 6-year-old death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian and has begun a fresh probe following directions from the Bombay High Court. The development brings the circumstances surrounding her death back under formal investigation.
Salian’s father, Satish Salian, appeared before CBI officials and recorded his statement for more than 4 hours. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Nilesh Ojha.
What the new investigation will examine
Satish Salian has alleged that his daughter was gang-raped and murdered. He also named an actor and a politician in his statement. These allegations are currently part of the investigation and have not been established.
The Bombay High Court directed the CBI to take up the case and register an FIR on 2 September. The court also instructed the CBI joint director for the Mumbai region to appoint an experienced senior officer as the investigating officer.
The court made clear that no individual should be treated as an accused unless the investigation produces sufficient evidence. That direction is significant because the case involves allegations against influential people and police personnel.
What happened in 2020
Disha Salian died on 8 June 2020 after falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai’s Malad area. She had worked as a celebrity manager and had also worked with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput for some time.
Mumbai Police initially recorded the matter as an accidental death. Its subsequent investigation cited suicide and said it had found no evidence of conspiracy or foul play.
The CBI’s FIR means the claims raised in the later legal proceedings will now be examined through a central investigation. The inquiry is expected to focus on the circumstances of Salian’s death, the events of that night and the claims made since the original police investigation.
Allegations involving Aaditya Thackeray
The name of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray appeared in Satish Salian’s petition before the Bombay High Court. Thackeray rejected the allegations as baseless, said he had no connection with Disha Salian’s death and described them as an attempt to defame him.
His denial remains part of the public record alongside the allegations. The court’s direction that people should not be treated as accused without sufficient evidence sets the standard the CBI must follow as it assesses the competing claims.
Why the FIR matters
The FIR gives the CBI a formal basis to investigate a case that had earlier been handled by Mumbai Police as an accidental death before the later suicide finding. It does not, by itself, establish the allegations made by Salian’s father or prove criminal responsibility.
The next stage will depend on the evidence gathered by the agency. Investigators will examine the available material concerning the death and assess whether the claims raised in the petition and statement are supported by sufficient evidence.
Conclusion
The CBI’s FIR has reopened formal scrutiny of Disha Salian’s death, but the allegations remain unproven. The investigation, conducted under the Bombay High Court’s directions, will determine whether the claims are supported by evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What has the CBI done in the Disha Salian case?
The CBI has registered an FIR and begun investigating the case.
Q. When did the Bombay High Court direct the CBI to act?
The direction was issued on 2 September.
Q. Who gave a statement to the CBI?
Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, gave a statement lasting more than 4 hours.
Q. What allegations has Satish Salian made?
He has alleged that his daughter was gang-raped and murdered. The allegations have not been established.
Q. What was the earlier police finding?
Mumbai Police first recorded the death as accidental and later cited suicide, saying it found no evidence of conspiracy or foul play.
Q. Has anyone been established as an accused?
No. The Bombay High Court said a person should not be treated as an accused unless sufficient evidence is found.
Q. What did Aaditya Thackeray say?
He rejected the allegations as baseless, denied any connection with the death and called them an attempt to defame him.
