 "Was actor Sushant Singh’s manager Disha Salian raped, murdered?")
Nearly five years after the tragic death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, her father, Satish Salian, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh investigation into the case.
He has called for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has requested the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against Aaditya Thackeray —the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray.
The move has reignited political tensions, with allegations and counterclaims surfacing once again. While the case was initially closed as an accident, Satish Salian now claims his daughter was “brutally raped and murdered” and that there was a cover-up to protect influential figures.
Who was Disha Salian & what happened to her?
Disha Salian was a well-known celebrity manager in the Indian entertainment industry, working with several Bollywood celebrities, including the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
On June 8, 2020, she tragically fell from the 14th floor of a high-rise residential building in Malad, Mumbai. According to India Today, she had been at a party with her fiance and friends when the incident took place.
One of her friends later revealed in a message that Disha often became emotional after drinking. That evening, she was reportedly distressed and had expressed her feelings, saying, “No one cares for anyone anymore.”
At one point during the party, she went to her room, locked the door, and began crying. Her friends, assuming she was unwell from drinking, initially paid no attention when they heard water running from the tap. However, when she failed to respond to their repeated calls, they broke open the door—only to realise she had fallen from the balcony.
Shockingly, Disha was still alive when they found her. They rushed her to the hospital, but by the time they arrived, she was declared dead.
Following the incident, the Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and began their investigation.
Just six days later, on June 14, 2020, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence. While initially ruled a suicide, his case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), adding fuel to speculation that the two deaths were somehow connected.
Amid the growing controversy, BJP MP Narayan Rane made explosive claims, alleging that Disha had been “raped and then murdered” and that influential figures from Maharashtra’s political circles and Bollywood were involved.
However, after an extensive investigation, authorities found no evidence of foul play in Disha’s death. The case was officially closed, with officials stating that she may have taken her own life.
Why is her father asking for a reinvestigation?
Satish Salian has now moved the Bombay High Court, filing a petition through his lawyer, Nilesh Ojha, alleging that his daughter was “brutally raped and murdered.”
In his plea, he claims that a political cover-up was orchestrated to shield high-profile individuals. He has specifically called for an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray, alleging that Disha’s case was deliberately mishandled to protect those in power. He has also demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The petition, accessed by IANS, accuses the Mumbai Police of hastily categorising Disha’s death as a suicide or an accidental fall without properly examining key forensic evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and circumstantial proof.
In a news interview, Salian voiced his doubts over the official version of events, insisting that his daughter’s death was not an accident. He pointed to the absence of injuries consistent with a fall from such a height and raised concerns about the crime scene, stating that it was suspiciously clean and lacked any visible bloodstains.
These inconsistencies, coupled with new details the family claims to have uncovered, have reinforced their demand for a fresh probe. They have urged authorities to question the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader as part of the investigation.
Ojha confirmed that they were still in the process of filing the petition and would have it registered at the High Court’s registry department on Thursday.
Political row erupts
The petition filed by Disha Salian’s father has sparked reactions from political leaders across party lines, with many questioning the timing of the renewed focus on the case.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday responded by saying that there were attempts to tarnish his reputation.
“If the matter is in court, I will respond in court. My fight will continue for the betterment of this country,” he said, adding that efforts had been made over the past five years to show him in a bad light.
Earlier, Party leader Sanjay Raut echoed similar concerns, suggesting that the push for a fresh probe was an attempt to distract from the recent violence in Nagpur.
“We don’t know what is there in their petition, but the timing of the petition is crucial. It seems some power is behind the petitioner, and it’s an attempt to sideline the Aurangzeb issue and Nagpur violence by focusing on the Disha Salian case,” Raut was quoted as saying by News18.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat acknowledged suspicions surrounding Salian’s death and supported her father’s call for justice. “Her death was suspicious. Today, her father has openly spoken. He has now approached the High Court. Those found guilty in this case will be sent to jail,” he stated.
Maharashtra’s junior home minister, Yogesh Kadam, assured that the state would comply with any directives issued by the court. “The honourable court’s order will be followed,” he said.
With input from agencies
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