NEW DELHI: NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Monday questioned the registration of a CBI FIR into the death of Disha Salian, saying she was surprised because the case had earlier been treated as closed by the same government.Salian, a former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died after falling from the 12th floor of a building in Mumbai’s Malad area on June 8, 2020. The CBI registered an FIR on September 13 following a direction from the Bombay High Court for a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding her death.“I was surprised to hear how this (registration of an FIR by CBI) happened because it is the same government that had closed the case. I do not understand what is happening,” Sule told reporters in Pune.She said she would speak to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut to understand the latest developments.
What is in the CBI FIR?
According to CBI officials cited by news agency PTI, the FIR does not name any individual as an accused, in line with the Bombay High Court’s directions. It invokes IPC provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, gang rape, murder, disappearance of evidence and public servants allegedly framing incorrect records.The FIR followed a September 2 order by the Bombay High Court on a petition filed by Salian’s father, Satish Salian. The CBI began recording statements after the court directed it to conduct a thorough investigation.The court had criticised the Mumbai Police investigation, noting “glaring discrepancies” and observing that the probe “raises more questions than answers”.It had also directed that nobody should be treated as an accused unless investigators found sufficient grounds for reasonable suspicion based on the material collected during the probe.
Advocate claims names are in FIR
Advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Satish Salian, claimed on Monday that the FIR contains the names of several individuals, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, Rohan Roy, Rhea Chakraborty, Param Bir Singh, Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi, among others.However, the CBI has not publicly confirmed the names claimed by the advocate, according to PTI.Ojha said the FIR was registered after the CBI conducted preliminary verification of Satish Salian’s complaint and recorded his statement. He said the case covers allegations of gang rape, murder and an alleged cover-up, invoking IPC Sections 376D, 302, 201, 217, 218 and 120B.Satish Salian had earlier approached the court alleging that his daughter was murdered.Speaking to news agency ANI on Friday, he said he had provided investigators with the names of people whom he wanted examined.“I stated the facts exactly as they were; I told them everything that happened to my daughter. I listed all the names: Aditya, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and the bodyguards. They noted everything down,” he said.
Sule raises political conspiracy claim
Asked whether she saw a possible political conspiracy behind the development, Sule did not give a direct answer.“Anything is possible,” she said, while referring to what she called “ICE” — Income Tax, CBI and Enforcement Directorate — and alleging that central agencies had previously been used against political figures who later joined the ruling party.
How do you perceive the role of the Bombay High Court in the Disha Salian case?
3k+ users shared opinion today
5k+ users already voted today
3k+ users shared opinion today
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, meanwhile, said the case should not be politicised and should be left to the courts.“There is no need to give the Disha Salian case a political colour. There is no need to politicise it,” Pathan said, adding that the matter was sub judice and that “it is best to let the court decide”.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Salian’s death had earlier been recorded as an Accidental Death Report. The Bombay High Court had raised concerns over the fact that no FIR was registered despite allegations by her family that she had been murdered.The court also noted that copies of the post-mortem report and ADR had not been provided to her family for years.Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence six days after Salian’s death.The CBI later submitted a closure report in Rajput’s case, concluding that he died by suicide; that report remains pending before the competent court.The Bombay High Court has directed the CBI to investigate the Salian case and has left it to the agency to determine whether a criminal case is made out based on the evidence collected.
