Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take up the probe into the death of Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died on June 8, 2020. The court also directed registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in the case and made it clear that no individual should be treated as an accused unless the investigation produces sufficient material against them.
The court directed a senior CBI officer to conduct the investigation. The order comes more than five years after Salian, 28, died after allegedly falling from a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. Her death occurred just days before Sushant Singh Rajput died at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. The proximity of the two deaths has led to several claims and allegations over the years.
Salian’s father, Satish Salian, had approached the High Court seeking a CBI investigation after alleging that his daughter had been murdered rather than having died by suicide or in an accident. Through his counsel, Nilesh Ojha, he argued that several circumstances surrounding her death raised suspicion and warranted registration of an FIR and a comprehensive investigation.
During the hearing, the bench questioned why the Mumbai Police had continued to rely on an inquiry under Section 174 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for such a prolonged period. The court noted that proceedings under the provision were primarily intended to ascertain the apparent cause of death following registration of an Accidental Death Report (ADR), rather than serve as an indefinite criminal investigation.
The police had initially closed the inquiry within about three months. It was subsequently reopened in 2023 following claims and allegations circulating on social media. The High Court questioned the legal basis for extending such an inquiry for several years and sought clarity from the state on the steps taken during the intervening period.
The Maharashtra government maintained that Salian had died by suicide after allegedly falling from the 12th floor of the residential building. The prosecution relied on witness statements, forensic material and medical evidence, arguing that the injuries were consistent with a fall from such a height. The state also maintained that its investigation had not found evidence of foul play or sexual assault.
Salian’s father, however, relied on documents including the panchnama, photographs of the body and other material collected during the inquiry. His counsel raised questions regarding the nature of the injuries, the circumstances surrounding the fall and other aspects, including details relating to her clothing.
The High Court questioned the state on several of these issues but clarified that it was not drawing any final conclusion about the circumstances of Salian’s death at this stage. Instead, the court’s focus was on whether the investigation conducted so far was adequate and whether the legal procedure had been properly followed.
The petition also raised allegations involving Aaditya Thackeray, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. However, the High Court specifically directed that no person should be named as an accused in the FIR at this stage. The court said a person could be treated as an accused only if the investigation produced suitable and credible material linking them to a cognisable offence.
Senior counsel Sudeep Pasbola, appearing for Thackeray, opposed the allegations and described them as motivated and linked to political rivalry. He argued that the state investigation was not legally barred and that the petitioner had alternative legal remedies, including approaching a magistrate with a private complaint if he believed an FIR should have been registered.
The High Court, however, said its concern was not with the political dimensions of the allegations but with ensuring adherence to the law and providing the family with a proper conclusion to the matter. The court also indicated that if the CBI investigation finds no criminality, an appropriate final report could be submitted in accordance with law.
The case has remained closely associated with the controversy surrounding Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, with Salian’s family alleging that the two deaths could be connected and part of a larger conspiracy. The CBI had separately investigated the circumstances surrounding Rajput’s death.
With the latest High Court order, the circumstances surrounding Disha Salian’s death, the evidence collected during the earlier inquiry and the allegations raised by her family will now come under a fresh CBI investigation. The probe is expected to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish any criminal offence and identify those responsible, if wrongdoing is found.
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About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
