In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of late celebrity manager Disha Salian. The order comes in response to a petition filed by Disha’s father, Satish Salian, who challenged the initial police closure and raised persistent suspicions regarding the tragic events of June 2020.
A division bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale directed the central agency to register a First Information Report (FIR), record the statements of the family, and hand over all case documents to a suitably experienced and senior officer for a transparent investigation.
While issuing directions for the federal agency to take over the case file, the High Court emphasized procedural fairness and legal caution. The bench explicitly noted that no individual shall be treated as an accused unless a reasonable, cognizable offense is established through concrete material gathered during the investigation.
The court further clarified the legal pathway for the federal agency:
- Action on Findings: If the CBI investigation reveals no criminality or foul play, the agency is authorized to file an appropriate summary report before the concerned court.
- Recourse for the Family: Should a summary report be filed, Satish Salian will retain the legal liberty to challenge it under due process.
- Transfer of Records: The Mumbai Police have been directed to transfer all case records, medical reports, and evidence immediately to the CBI.
Disha Salian, 28, who briefly worked as a celebrity manager—including for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput—died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area.
Following the incident, the local police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). After conducting an inquiry, the authorities officially closed the matter, concluding that the death was a case of suicide. The timing of the incident—occurring just days before Sushant Singh Rajput’s tragic death on June 14, 2020—drew intense public scrutiny and fuelled widespread speculation regarding potential links between the two events.
Dissatisfied with the initial conclusion, Satish Salian approached the Bombay High Court through his advocate, Nilesh Ojha, alleging that his daughter was brutally assaulted and murdered rather than having died by suicide. The petition raised serious concerns over discrepancies in the police probe, medical observations, and the handling of the spot panchnama.
During the extensive hearings, the bench scrutinized the progression of the police inquiry and questioned why the matter had remained in a grey area for years without a definitive, conclusive closure. Acknowledging the profound grief and grievance of a father seeking answers, the court underscored that a thorough, lawful investigation is essential to ensure justice and provide closure to the grieving family.
By: Bollyo
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