Thackerays, Actors Named Under Scanner as CBI Formalizes FIR in Disha Salian Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) to probe the June 2020 death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, acting on directions issued by the Bombay High Court.

The complaint names prominent figures—including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, and actors Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, and Rhea Chakraborty—to examine their potential links to the case. Agency officials clarified that none of the individuals named have been designated as accused at this stage; instead, their suspected roles are subject to ongoing inquiry per court guidelines.

Background of the Case

• The Incident: Disha Salian (28) died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad, Mumbai. The incident occurred less than a week before actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whom she had briefly managed, was found dead in his Bandra flat.
• Previous Inquiries: Mumbai Police initially recorded an Accidental Death Report (ADR), treating the death as a suicide and ruling out foul play. A subsequent review by a state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) reached similar conclusions.
• Judicial Intervention: Acting on a petition filed by Disha’s father, Satish Salian, the Bombay High Court directed the federal agency to initiate an independent investigation. The court mandated that individuals may only be formally charged if the investigating officer establishes sufficient, demonstrable grounds of suspicion.

Scope of the CBI Probe

The FIR incorporates formal statements recorded by Satish Salian alleging a broader criminal conspiracy, sexual assault, murder, and subsequent efforts to fabricate evidence or suppress official records. The agency’s inquiry covers several key focus areas:

• The specific movements and actions of the individuals named in the complaint around the time of the incident.
• Allegations surrounding an orchestrated cover-up and the propagation of an alleged false suicide narrative.
• The conduct of local police personnel, forensic examiners, and medical staff handling the original post-mortem and case documentation.

Aaditya Thackeray and other public figures mentioned in the complaint have consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as unfounded.