CBI registers FIR in Disha Salian death case after father's statement
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, 14 September 2026, formally registered an FIR in connection with the death of Disha Salian, the former celebrity manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, acting on a directive from the Bombay High Court. The development marks a significant escalation in the long-pending investigation into Salian's death in Mumbai in June 2020.
Father's Statement Before CBI
Two days prior to the FIR registration, Satish Salian, Disha's father, recorded his statement before the agency as part of the ongoing probe. In his statement, Satish Salian allegedly named several prominent individuals, claiming they played a significant role in an alleged conspiracy and subsequent cover-up surrounding his daughter's death.
According to the statement, Satish Salian called for investigation into alleged offences including criminal conspiracy, the creation and propagation of what he described as a 'false suicide narrative', and the alleged suppression, destruction, or fabrication of evidence.
Key Names Mentioned in the Statement
The statement reportedly names former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, actor Rhea Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Rohan Roy, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Aditya Thackeray's bodyguards, former police official Sachin Vaze, then-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, DCP Vishal Thakur, former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, and several police officials.
The statement further names officials associated with Malvani Police Station, doctors and staff allegedly involved in a delayed post-mortem, personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina, security guards of Regent Galaxy Building, and several other individuals, according to reports.
Bombay High Court Order and CBI's Steps
The Bombay High Court had earlier directed the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a fresh investigation into the case. The court additionally ordered that a senior CBI officer be appointed to supervise the probe. Prior to registering the FIR, the central agency had written to the Malvani police seeking all documents and records related to Salian's death to facilitate its inquiry.
Background: The 2020 Deaths and Persistent Questions
Disha Salian died in Mumbai in June 2020 under circumstances that were widely described as suspicious. Her death occurred shortly before that of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, triggering widespread public speculation and persistent demands for a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding both cases. Notably, this is not the first time investigative agencies have been drawn into the matter — multiple probes and petitions have been filed over the past several years, though the Bombay High Court's latest direction brings a renewed institutional mandate to the inquiry.
With the FIR now registered and court supervision in place, the CBI's next steps — including which individuals it summons for questioning — will be closely watched.