Archive · 15 Sep 2026
CBI Disha Salian FIR Intensifies Maharashtra Political Battle
The CBI has started a new investigation into Disha Salian’s death.
Salian was a manager who had briefly worked with actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
She died in Mumbai on June 8, 2020, and Rajput died six days later.
Her father asked the Bombay High Court for a deeper investigation.
The court then directed the CBI to examine the case.
The CBI’s FIR refers to serious possible offences.
Reports disagree about whether people are named in the FIR, but Aaditya Thackeray is mentioned in accounts of the document.
Opposition leaders say the case is being used to attack the Thackeray family politically.
Government leaders say investigators are following the court’s directions and will determine what happened.
The CBI registered an FIR into Disha Salian’s 2020 death after complaints from her father, Satish Salian, and a Bombay High Court direction.
Reports differ on the FIR’s naming: one says it includes Aaditya Thackeray and Dino Morea, while another says no individual is named as an accused, though Aaditya is mentioned.
The FIR reportedly invokes provisions concerning criminal conspiracy, gang rape, murder, disappearance of evidence and falsifying records.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) leaders called the renewed investigation politically motivated and defended Aaditya Thackeray.
BJP and Shiv Sena leaders rejected the vendetta allegations, saying the CBI is acting under court directions and will establish the facts.
- Who
- The Central Bureau of Investigation, Disha Salian’s father Satish Salian, Aaditya Thackeray, and Maharashtra political leaders are central to the dispute.
- What
- The CBI registered an FIR to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.
- When
- Salian died on June 8, 2020; the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe on September 2, and the FIR was registered on September 13.
- Where
- The case concerns Salian’s death after a fall from a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area, and the related political dispute is in Maharashtra.
- Why
- The FIR followed complaints by Salian’s father and the Bombay High Court’s finding that the earlier investigation raised questions and warranted a central probe.
Political Vendetta Allegation
Court-Directed Investigation
Reason for the renewed probe
Political Vendetta Allegation
Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) leaders say the FIR is being used to tarnish the Thackeray family and target Aaditya Thackeray for political reasons.
Court-Directed Investigation
BJP and Shiv Sena leaders say the CBI is investigating because the Bombay High Court directed it to do so and that the facts should be allowed to emerge.
Status of earlier inquiries
Political Vendetta Allegation
Opposition leaders say Mumbai Police had already investigated the matter, cleared Aaditya of a connection, and effectively closed the case.
Court-Directed Investigation
The High Court criticised the earlier investigation for failing to register an FIR and said it raised more questions than answers, supporting a fresh examination.
Public treatment of named individuals
Political Vendetta Allegation
Sanjay Raut objects to media coverage that he says portrays Aaditya as an accused before the investigation is complete and alleges selective leakage of the FIR.
Court-Directed Investigation
The reported court direction says no person should be treated as an accused unless investigators find sufficient grounds based on collected material; being mentioned in an FIR does not itself establish guilt.
- Investigating agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation
- Deceased
- Disha Salian, who had briefly worked as Sushant Singh Rajput’s manager
- Date and location of death
- June 8, 2020, in Mumbai’s Malad area
- Court direction
- The Bombay High Court ordered a CBI investigation on September 2
- FIR date
- September 13
- Reported legal provisions
- Criminal conspiracy, gang rape, murder, disappearance of evidence, and falsifying records
- Political dispute
- Opposition leaders allege political targeting; BJP and Shiv Sena leaders reject that claim
