CBI's Seema Pahuja, gold medalist who cracked RG Kar and Hathras, leads Disha Salian probe
Synopsis
The CBI has handed its most decorated investigator, gold medalist Seema Pahuja, the Disha Salian death probe after formally registering an FIR for alleged criminal conspiracy and evidence suppression. Pahuja previously led investigations in the RG Kar rape-murder case and the Hathras case — a signal that the agency is treating this as a case of maximum seriousness, nearly six years after Salian's death in Mumbai.
Key Takeaways
CBI has registered an FIR probing alleged criminal conspiracy and evidence suppression in the death of Disha Salian , celebrity manager who died in Mumbai in June 2020 .
Seema Pahuja , Superintendent of Police in CBI's Special Crime Unit, has taken charge of the investigation.
Pahuja is a recipient of the gold medal for Best Investigating Officer in 2021 and has led probes in the RG Kar , Hathras , and Unnao cases.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar will serve as the investigating officer alongside Pahuja.
Salian's father Satish Salian said he is 'fully confident' in the CBI probe and demanded the severest punishment for those he alleges are responsible.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) to probe alleged criminal conspiracy and suppression or destruction of evidence in the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, and the agency's decorated officer Seema Pahuja has taken charge of the high-profile investigation. Salian died in Mumbai in June 2020 under circumstances that have long been described as suspicious.
Currently posted as Superintendent of Police in the Special Crime Unit at CBI Headquarters in New Delhi, Pahuja will be supported by a team that includes Deputy Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar as the investigating officer.
A Track Record in High-Stakes Cases
Pahuja's appointment signals the CBI's intent to bring its most experienced hand to a case that has drawn sustained public scrutiny. She has been at the helm of several complex criminal and forensic evidence investigations over the years.
She was part of the CBI team that investigated the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in 2024 — one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent Indian legal history.
Pahuja was also a member of the 15-member CBI team constituted to investigate the Hathras case in Uttar Pradesh, and played a role in the Unnao rape case probe. She further led investigations into the Gudiya case in Himachal Pradesh and the rape and murder of a minor girl in Shimla.
Gold Medal for Best Investigating Officer
Pahuja is a recipient of the gold medal for Best Investigating Officer in 2021, an honour that underscores her standing within the bureau. Her profile in sensitive cases involving forensic evidence and alleged official complicity makes her a fitting choice for the Salian probe, which involves allegations of evidence tampering.
The Disha Salian Case: What Is Known
Disha Salian, who worked as a celebrity manager, died in Mumbai in June 2020 in circumstances described as suspicious by her family and by those who have demanded a formal inquiry. Her death occurred shortly before the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, fuelling prolonged speculation and public demands for a thorough investigation into both cases.
The CBI's FIR covers alleged criminal conspiracy and the possible suppression or destruction of evidence — an indication that the agency is treating the case as more than a straightforward accidental death.
Father's Reaction: 'Fully Confident' in CBI
Salian's father, Satish Salian, said he was at peace now that the case had been formally registered. 'I am at peace that the case has been registered, though I will be happy only when the accused are punished,' he said. He described himself as 'fully confident' about the CBI's investigation.
Satish Salian also demanded the harshest possible punishment for those he named as responsible, including Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, their bodyguards, and others, though it must be noted that these are allegations by the family and no court has determined guilt.
With one of the CBI's most decorated investigators now formally at the helm, the Disha Salian case enters a critical new phase — and its outcome could have far-reaching implications for the broader set of questions that have swirled around events in Mumbai in June 2020.
Point of View
Evidence-heavy cases — is a deliberate institutional signal, not a routine posting. The FIR's framing around criminal conspiracy and evidence suppression, rather than simply unnatural death, raises the legal stakes considerably. What mainstream coverage often underplays is how the Salian case has remained entangled, in public perception, with the Sushant Singh Rajput story — and how the CBI's findings here could either resolve or deepen that narrative. The credibility of the outcome will depend almost entirely on whether the investigation is insulated from political pressure, given the prominent names cited as accused by the family.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Seema Pahuja and why has she been assigned the Disha Salian case?
Seema Pahuja is a Superintendent of Police in CBI's Special Crime Unit at CBI Headquarters in New Delhi, and a gold medal recipient for Best Investigating Officer in 2021. She has been assigned the Disha Salian death case because of her extensive track record in high-profile, evidence-intensive investigations including the RG Kar rape-murder case and the Hathras case.
What has the CBI registered the FIR for in the Disha Salian death case?
The CBI has registered an FIR to probe alleged criminal conspiracy and the suppression or destruction of evidence connected to the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, who died in Mumbai in June 2020. The FIR signals that the agency is treating the case as potentially involving deliberate obstruction of justice.
What cases has Seema Pahuja investigated previously?
Pahuja was part of the CBI team that investigated the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case in Kolkata in 2024, was a member of the 15-member CBI team on the Hathras case, and played roles in the Unnao rape case, the Gudiya case in Himachal Pradesh, and a rape and murder case involving a minor girl in Shimla.
What did Disha Salian's father say about the CBI probe?
Satish Salian said he was fully confident about the CBI's investigation and expressed relief that the case had been formally registered. He said he would be satisfied only when those responsible were punished, and named several individuals as alleged accused — though no court has determined guilt.
How is the Disha Salian case connected to Sushant Singh Rajput?
Disha Salian, who worked as a celebrity manager, died in Mumbai in June 2020, shortly before the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The proximity of the two deaths fuelled public speculation and demands for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding both cases.
