CBI Registers FIR in Disha Salian Death Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in connection with the death of Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, following a direction from the Bombay High Court for a thorough probe into the case. Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020, days before Rajput was found dead at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. Her death had earlier been recorded as an Accidental Death Report (ADR).

High Court Directive and Family's Allegations

The Bombay High Court directed the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian's death. During an earlier hearing, a Division Bench of Justice Bharti Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande raised concerns over the registration of only an ADR despite allegations by Salian's family that she was murdered. The court also noted that copies of the post-mortem report and the ADR had not been provided to Salian's family even five years after her death.

Following the court's direction, Salian's father, Satish Salian, said he had provided investigating authorities with details of the circumstances surrounding his daughter's death and expressed confidence that the proceedings would begin soon. Speaking to ANI, Satish Salian said he had told investigators what he knew about the events and provided names of several individuals whom he wanted authorities to examine.

"I stated the facts exactly as they were; I told them everything that happened to my daughter. I listed all the names: Aditya, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and the bodyguards. They noted everything down. They said they would take action based on what I told them; the proceedings would begin in a few days," he said. "The truth cannot be defeated. God stands where the truth is; that is why justice will be served," he added.

FIR Details and Named Individuals

The FIR, registered on September 14, follows the Bombay High Court's order. According to reports citing advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Satish Salian, the FIR contains the names of several individuals, including Sooraj Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty, and Dino Morea. The FIR also names Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and his father, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, among others whose roles require investigation.

In a detailed report, The Times of India noted that a CBI official said the FIR was registered pursuant to the court's direction and no accused have been named at this stage, adding that names would be included if involvement is established during the probe. The FIR alleges that some public servants and police officers need to be investigated for destruction or suppression of case papers, files and other public records, fabrication of official records, and misuse of public funds, manpower and police machinery for unlawful purposes and for shielding the offenders. It also calls for the questioning of the autopsy and forensic officials besides several others, including the building's security guards.

Nilesh Ojha, representing Satish Salian, was quoted by media reports as saying that all those listed in the FIR are accused and that the story has been proved false by CCTV footage, implicating a cover-up.

Sooraj Pancholi's Response

Actor Sooraj Pancholi has broken his silence on the controversy, saying his name has been repeatedly dragged into the case despite him having no connection with her. In an Instagram statement, Pancholi said he never met Salian or Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray and maintained that he was willing to cooperate with investigating agencies.

"I have never met Late Disha Salian in my life, directly or indirectly. I have also never met Aditya Thackeray in my life! It is honestly very unfair and extremely upsetting to see my name being dragged into something that I have absolutely nothing to do with, especially when there is no evidence or proof connecting me to this matter," his post read.

Pancholi also claimed that he had already been questioned by the CBI and police several years ago, with his statement recorded "almost 4-5 years ago". He wrote, "I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE! If any investigating agency feels that they need to question me again or require any further information from me, I am completely willing to cooperate and make myself available for any investigation."

He called for an investigation into what he described as "malicious propaganda and false narratives" surrounding the case, saying a person's death should not become a reason to damage another individual's reputation without evidence. "A headline is not evidence. A debate is not evidence. Someone saying something on television does not make it a fact," Pancholi wrote, urging people to verify information before forming opinions. He concluded, "I have stayed quiet for a long time, but I will not allow my name to be continuously dragged into something I have absolutely no connection with."

Reactions

Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, welcomed the CBI inquiry, expressing hope that it would renew faith among Rajput's followers. Sharing a video on her social media handles, she wrote, "Truth has its own power… it can be suppressed for some time, troubled, but it cannot be defeated. May Krishna be our guide. Truth alone triumphs. Jai Shri Krishna. The CBI inquiry in Disha Salian's case is giving hope to many SSRians too."

The investigation is ongoing, and the CBI is expected to scrutinise documents, record statements, and conduct technical analysis as part of its probe.