CBI Reopens Disha Salian Case After Defamation Notice Targets Leaders
Mumbai, September 17 – A fresh legal challenge has emerged in the ongoing Disha Salian investigation. Satiresh Salian, the father of the late Disha, has dispatched a defamation notice demanding a compensation of INR 500 crore from Shiv Sena (UBT) stalwart Aaditya Thackeray and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. The notice claims that statements made by the two politicians have harmed the family’s reputation and demands a public retraction, an apology and the hefty monetary award.
The petition provides a strict seven‑day deadline for compliance, after which further legal steps will be taken.
The notice coincides with a new investigative phase led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). After a Bombay High Court order, the CBI has filed an FIR and commenced an exhaustive review of the case, covering CCTV records, witness testimonies, forensic analysis and the original post‑mortem.
Satiresh Salian contends that the remarks from Thackeray and Deshmukh have caused a “serious injury” to his family’s honour, justifying the demand for both an apology and a substantial financial settlement.
At present, neither politician has responded publicly to the notice.
Background context: Disha Salian, formerly a manager for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died after a fall from a building in Malad on June 8, 2020. Initial police reports classified the incident as suicide, noting a lack of evidence for homicide. Disagreeing with the verdict, Salian’s father approached the Bombay High Court, which instructed a fresh enquiry by a central agency.
Aaditya Thackeray has rebutted any alleged association with Salian, insisting that his name has been politicised and that the accusations are a ploy to damage his image. He urged the investigative agencies to conduct their work without any political interference.
The convergence of a high‑value defamation claim and the CBI’s renewed scrutiny adds another complex layer to a case that continues to attract nationwide attention.