Trigger Warning: This story contains references to murder, rape and death. Reader discretion is advised. On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to investigate the death of Disha Salian, a former celebrity manager, after her father questioned the circumstances surrounding her passing in 2020.
FIR to be registered, statement to be recorded
According to PTI, the bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale ordered the CBI to lodge an FIR and take down the statement of Satish Salian, the deceased’s father, adding that nobody should be labelled an accused unless the probe yields sufficient evidence against them.
Mumbai police told to hand over case papers
The Mumbai police were instructed by the court to promptly submit all case documents to the CBI. “In case the investigation reveals that no case is made out, then the CBI shall file the appropriate summary report before the court concerned,” the bench said. The court also noted that Satish Salian would be free to contest the report if he wished to do so.
Disha Salian’s death in 2020
On June 8, 2020, Disha lost her life after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad locality. At the time, the city police filed an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and, following their inquiry, determined the death to be a suicide. Her father disputed this, however, filing a petition in the High Court last year that alleged she had been gang-raped and murdered.
Advocate questions police probe
Nilesh Ojha, the advocate representing Satish Salian, had questioned the credibility of the police investigation into the case. Salian requested that the CBI take over the probe into his daughter’s death and that an FIR be filed against Aaditya Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.
Allegations of cover-up
In his petition, he stated that his daughter’s death in June 2020 occurred under suspicious and unexplained circumstances. He further alleged that she had been raped and killed, and that a politically motivated cover-up followed in order to shield certain powerful individuals.
