Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Bombay High Court Questions Disha Salian Death Probe
Disha Salian died after falling from a Mumbai building in June 2020.
The police said she died by suicide.
Her father later asked the court to investigate the possibility that she was killed.
The Bombay High Court found several parts of the investigation confusing.
It questioned how her injuries were described and why blood was reportedly not found near her body.
It also noted that reports described her body differently from photographs.
The prosecution said medical reports recorded serious injuries and that rain could have removed blood.
The court said these issues create reasonable doubt, but it has not decided what happened.
A lawyer for Aaditya Thackeray also argued that the petition did not follow the usual legal process.
The Bombay High Court questioned inconsistencies in the investigation into Disha Salian’s 2020 death.
The court raised doubts about reported injuries, missing bloodstains and conflicting accounts of her clothing.
The prosecution said medical records showed severe fractures and that rain may have washed away blood.
Police and the prosecution maintain Salian died by suicide, while her father alleged gang rape and murder.
The court said the discrepancies created reasonable doubt but emphasized it was not reaching a conclusion.
- Who
- Disha Salian, her father Satish Salian, the Maharashtra government, Mumbai Police and lawyers appearing before the Bombay High Court.
- What
- The court questioned discrepancies in the investigation into Salian’s death and heard arguments over whether she died by suicide or was murdered.
- When
- Salian died on June 8, 2020; the court’s questioning occurred nearly six years later, according to the prosecution’s argument.
- Where
- Salian fell from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area; the case was heard by the Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The court examined alleged inconsistencies involving injuries, bloodstains, clothing and the police inquiry into the death.
Questions and Allegations
Prosecution and Legal Defence
Cause of death
Questions and Allegations
Satish Salian’s petition alleged that Disha Salian was gang raped and murdered.
Prosecution and Legal Defence
The police and prosecution maintained that she died by suicide; the prosecution cited statements from her father and Rohan Rai.
Investigation inconsistencies
Questions and Allegations
The court questioned how a fall from the 14th floor could reportedly result in limited dental injury, why bloodstains were absent and why clothing descriptions differed from photographs.
Prosecution and Legal Defence
Public Prosecutor Shishir Hire said the medical records documented severe fractures, bleeding depended on the point of impact and monsoon rain could have washed away blood.
Legal procedure
Questions and Allegations
The petition asked the High Court to examine the death investigation directly.
Prosecution and Legal Defence
A lawyer representing Aaditya Thackeray argued that the petitioner bypassed available legal remedies by approaching the High Court without first filing a police complaint.
- Date of death
- June 8, 2020
- Location
- A residential building in Malad, Mumbai
- Initial police classification
- An Accidental Death Report under Section 174 of the CrPC
- Police position
- Salian died by suicide
- Family allegation
- Her father alleged gang rape and murder
- Court’s observation
- The discrepancies created room for reasonable doubt, but the court drew no conclusion
- Prosecution argument
- Medical records showed severe facial, skull and rib fractures, while rain may have washed away blood