Aaditya Thackeray denies Disha Salian case link, calls allegations 'evidence-free'
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has denied any connection with the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named him in its FIR in the 2020 case.
"I have never met Disha Salian, nor did I have any acquaintance with her," Thackeray said in a post on X, adding that he wanted to "cut through the noise and talk facts".
Let’s cut through the noise and talk facts, once again: I have never met or known Disha Salian.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 16, 2026
Linking my name to this tragic case constantly is a deliberate, evidence-free attempt at character assassination by a few individuals with clear political and personal motives, for…
He alleged that repeatedly linking his name to the case was a "deliberate, evidence-free attempt at character assassination" driven by political and personal motives. He did not name anyone.
"Let the official re-investigation proceed without malicious distractions and character assassination for political motives," he said.
What Disha Salian's father alleged
The CBI registered an FIR on Monday under provisions relating to murder and criminal conspiracy, among other sections, following an order of the Bombay High Court.
The case followed a petition filed by Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, who had alleged lapses in the Mumbai Police investigation. He subsequently recorded his statement before the CBI.
According to the FIR, Satish Salian alleged that several people, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray, played a significant role in an alleged conspiracy and subsequent cover-up.
The FIR also names actors Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi and Rhea Chakraborty, along with doctors and staff associated with the delayed post-mortem, among those whose roles the agency says require investigation.
Those named in the FIR have also denied any role in the matter.
Bombay High Court had flagged 'glaring discrepancies'
Before registering the FIR, the CBI sought from Mumbai Police all documents and records relating to Disha Salian's death.
The Bombay High Court had criticised the police for not registering an FIR for six years, observing that the investigation "raises more questions than answers" and pointing to what it described as "glaring discrepancies".
The court also noted that Disha Salian's family had not received copies of the post-mortem report and the Accidental Death Report (ADR) even six years after her death.
Disha Salian's death in 2020
Disha Salian died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence days later.
Mumbai Police had registered an ADR and, following an inquiry, concluded that Disha Salian died by suicide.
Her father later approached the Bombay High Court, alleging that his daughter had been gang-raped and murdered.
'Mystery woman' mentioned in police statement
A statement purportedly recorded from a police constable on duty at Shatabdi Hospital, where Salian was declared dead, said she had been brought to the hospital by "two boys and a girl".
The Bombay High Court's order also referred to a supplementary statement by Salian's fiancé, Rohan Rai, according to which her friends Himanshu Shikhare and Indraneel Vaidya took her to the hospital.
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