Have Never Known or Met Disha Salian: Aaditya Thackeray Calls Allegations a Political Smear Campaign

Aaditya Thackeray Breaks Silence on Disha Salian Case

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has publicly responded to allegations linking his name to the death of Disha Salian, saying that he had never known or met her.

In a statement on September 16, Thackeray described the campaign connecting him to the case as politically motivated and intended to damage his reputation. His comments come amid a renewed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into Salian's 2020 death.

What Did Aaditya Thackeray Say?

Thackeray said he had never met Disha Salian and had no relationship with her.

He alleged that attempts to associate his name with the case had continued for years and characterised them as a political campaign aimed at his character and reputation.

His comments represent his response to renewed public attention surrounding the case following the registration of the CBI FIR.

Why Has the Issue Returned to the Spotlight?

The case has returned to national attention after the CBI registered an FIR following a direction from the Bombay High Court.

Disha Salian, who had worked as a manager for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020 after falling from a residential building in Mumbai. Rajput died days later.

Salian's father, Satish Salian, subsequently raised concerns about the investigation and sought a fresh probe into his daughter's death.

CBI Registers FIR After Bombay High Court Direction

The CBI registered the FIR after the Bombay High Court ordered the agency to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian's death.

The court had taken note of concerns raised about the earlier investigation and directed that the CBI examine the case.

The agency's investigation is now expected to include examination of documents, statements from officials and witnesses, forensic material and other evidence.

Aaditya Thackeray Mentioned in CBI FIR

The CBI FIR reportedly mentions Aaditya Thackeray among several individuals whose roles require investigation.

Other names mentioned include Rohan Roy, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Sachin Vaze, Param Bir Singh, Uddhav Thackeray and Anil Deshmukh, along with several police officials.

However, the inclusion of a person's name in the FIR does not by itself establish guilt or mean that the person has been named as an accused. The CBI has said that no accused have been named at this stage and that names would be added as accused only if evidence establishes their involvement.

What Does the CBI FIR Seek to Investigate?

The FIR goes beyond simply examining the circumstances of Salian's death.

According to reporting on the FIR, investigators will examine allegations involving possible conspiracy, the handling of official records, alleged suppression or destruction of evidence and the conduct of officials involved in the original investigation.

The agency is also expected to question police personnel, forensic and autopsy officials and people connected with the building where Salian died.

Allegations Made by Disha Salian's Father's Lawyer

Satish Salian's lawyer has made allegations concerning a possible connection between Disha Salian, Sushant Singh Rajput and Aaditya Thackeray.

According to the lawyer's allegations, Disha had information concerning alleged activities involving Thackeray and had shared information with Rajput. These are allegations made on behalf of Salian's father and have not been established by the CBI investigation.

Thackeray has rejected the allegations and said he never knew or met Salian.

Bombay High Court Had Raised Questions About the Earlier Probe

The Bombay High Court had previously raised concerns about aspects of the investigation conducted after Salian's death.

The court reportedly referred to discrepancies in the investigation and questioned why an FIR had not been registered despite the passage of several years.

The court also took note of concerns regarding the availability of documents, including the post-mortem and accidental death reports, to Salian's family.

CBI Investigation Is Now Underway

The CBI is expected to begin its investigation by examining existing records and allegations before determining the next steps.

Investigators are expected to:

• Review police records and earlier investigation documents

• Record statements of police personnel involved in the original inquiry

• Examine witnesses connected to the case

• Inspect the relevant location

• Review forensic and autopsy material

• Conduct technical analysis where required

• Assess whether evidence supports the allegations made in the FIR

The investigation will determine whether the allegations are supported by evidence.

CBI Says Evidence Will Determine Further Action

An important aspect of the current investigation is the distinction between being mentioned in an FIR and being formally accused.

The CBI has indicated that individuals will not be treated as accused merely because their names appear in the FIR. Further action will depend on evidence gathered during the investigation.

Thackeray Calls the Allegations Politically Motivated

Thackeray has characterised the renewed allegations as part of a political campaign against him.

He said attempts to associate him with the Disha Salian case had continued for around six years and accused those behind the allegations of seeking to damage his reputation.

These statements represent Thackeray's position; the CBI investigation will separately examine the allegations and evidence in the case.

The Political Dimension of the Case

The Disha Salian case has been politically contentious in Maharashtra for several years.

Thackeray, a prominent Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra minister, has repeatedly been the subject of political allegations concerning the case, while his party has rejected any connection between him and Salian's death.

The reopening of the investigation has brought the issue back into political and public debate.

Investigation Into the 2020 Death

Disha Salian died in June 2020 after falling from a residential building in Mumbai.

Her death occurred shortly before the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, which led to extensive public speculation about whether the two cases were connected.

The CBI's current investigation will examine the available evidence and allegations rather than relying on speculation or previous public narratives.

Why the Current Investigation Matters

The renewed CBI probe could provide a formal examination of questions that have remained the subject of public debate for years.

Investigators will have to establish what happened, assess the evidence collected during the earlier investigation and determine whether any criminal offences were committed.

The outcome will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

What Happens Next?

The CBI is expected to continue examining records, witnesses and forensic evidence connected with the case.

The agency's investigation will also determine whether the allegations contained in the FIR are supported by evidence and whether any individuals should subsequently be treated as accused.

Until that process is completed, allegations mentioned in the FIR should not be treated as established facts.

Bottom Line

Aaditya Thackeray has denied ever knowing or meeting Disha Salian and has described the allegations linking him to her death as a politically motivated smear campaign.

His statement comes after the CBI registered an FIR following the Bombay High Court's direction to investigate the 2020 case. The FIR mentions Thackeray and several other individuals whose roles require investigation, but the CBI has clarified that no accused have been named at this stage and that involvement must be established through evidence.

The investigation is now expected to examine earlier police records, witness statements, forensic evidence and allegations surrounding the circumstances of Salian's death. Its findings will determine the next legal steps.