Aaditya Thackeray dismissed allegations against him in the Disha Salian case as an “attempt to malign” his image. On Wednesday, Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, approached the Bombay High Court, seeking a fresh investigation into her death. He also requested an FIR and a CBI probe against Aaditya Thackeray. The plea created controversy surrounding the case, drawing political and public attention.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday dismissed calls for a police case against him and an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding the suicide of celebrity manager Disha Salian at her Mumbai flat in June 2020.
Thackeray stated that “the demand made by Salian’s father, Satish Salian, who suspects she was raped and murdered and that her death was covered up by politicians is an attempt to tarnish his reputation, a tactic that has been ongoing for the past five years.”
He asserted,
“We will put forth our side… give our replies in court,”
Echoing his son’s sentiments, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed surprise that this issue had not been raised earlier in the ongoing Assembly session, noting,
“In every session, it is raked up. We will represent our side in court. There is no truth to this allegation.”
On Wednesday, Satish Salian filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh investigation into his daughter’s death, alongside a request for a First Information Report (FIR) against Aaditya Thackeray and others, as well as an inquiry by the CBI.
This is not the first instance where Thackeray has been associated with Ms. Salian’s death; in December 2022, BJP leaders and members of Eknath Shinde’s breakaway Sena faction demanded that he undergo a “lie detector” test. Thackeray’s response was succinct.
He stated,
“I don’t give a dime…”
In his petition, Salian alleged that his daughter was raped and murdered, claiming that details surrounding her death, as well as that of actor Sushant Singh Rajput who was a client of hers and died just six days later had been concealed by prominent politicians, including Thackeray.
He also alleged that influential political figures, such as Aaditya Thackeray and Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, pressured him to avoid implicating certain individuals. Furthermore, Salian contended that evidence was manipulated to suggest his daughter had died by suicide.
Mr. Salian has argued that the reality is that his daughter was subjected to “psychological manipulation” by associates of Aaditya Thackeray and Rohan Rai, Ms. Salian’s fiancée.
He has highlighted the absence of bloodstains and injuries consistent with falling from the 14th floor of the building, which authorities have stated was the cause of his daughter’s death. These inconsistencies have fueled demands for Thackeray to be questioned.
The petition from the Salian family also mentions that a written complaint was lodged against the Shiv Sena leader in January of the previous year, but alleges that no police case was initiated and that a CBI inquiry was suppressed.
KK Singh, the father of Sushant Rajput, has supported the call for an investigation.
He said,
“I don’t know his reasons… but what he did was right. We can reach a conclusion… it will also shed light on Sushant’s case,”
The allegations have sparked a confrontation between Thackeray, the Shiv Sena, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut questioned the timing of the petition, suggesting it was intended to distract from criticism of the BJP amid violent riots over Aurangzeb’s grave in Nagpur.
He claimed,
“Some power is working behind the petitioner. A discussion is being created, leaving aside the Aurangzeb issue, condemning efforts to defame the Thackeray family.”
Ambadas Danve, another Shiv Sena leader, accused the BJP of conspiring to “defame” Thackeray.
He stated,
“We have no idea what Disha’s father said, but Aaditya is a mature leader,”
Support also came from Anil Deshmukh of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP group. In contrast, Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane accused Thackeray and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of attempting to cover up the truth, warning that it would eventually come to light.
He called for Thackeray’s resignation, stating,
“We have demanded this in the House…”
Ms. Salian died on June 8, 2020, after jumping from the 14th floor of a residential building in suburban Malad. Just six days later, Sushant Rajput was found dead in his Bandra home.
The BJP has since repeatedly asserted that both Ms. Salian and Mr. Rajput were murdered and that the Uddhav Thackeray government, which was in power at the time, covered up Aaditya Thackeray’s involvement.