Disha Salian's father backs CBI probe, demands death penalty for accused
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Satish Salian, father of the late Disha Salian, on Tuesday, 15 September expressed full confidence in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s inquiry into his daughter's death, declaring he will find peace 'only when the accused are hanged.' The remarks came a day after the CBI registered an FIR in the case, following an order by the Bombay High Court.
Father's Statement and Key Allegations
Satish Salian said he was 'at peace' that the case had finally been formally registered, but stopped short of calling it a victory. 'I am fully confident about the CBI probe,' he said, adding that his satisfaction would come only with capital punishment for those he holds responsible.
He named several individuals in the FIR, including Aaditya Thackeray, actor Sooraj Pancholi, actor Dino Morea, their bodyguards, actress Rhea Chakraborty, and others. He also named former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and former police officer Sachin Waze, alleging that the two 'shielded the other accused.' 'If they had not shielded the accused, they would have been in jail by now,' he said.
Disputed Circumstances of Disha's Death
Satish Salian reiterated his long-standing position that his daughter's death was 'not a mere accident but a premeditated murder.' He questioned the official account that Disha fell from the 14th floor of a building, pointing to what he described as an absence of visible injuries on her body. 'No one looking at her could say that she had fallen from the 14th floor,' he said, adding that evidence supporting this claim had been submitted to authorities.
He also recalled the circumstances in which the family first learned of Disha's death, saying police summoned them to Malvani Police Station on the night of the incident, where they were informed she had died — a sequence he described as disturbing.
Response to Sooraj Pancholi's Social Media Post
Earlier on Tuesday, actor Sooraj Pancholi posted on social media that he did not know Disha Salian. Responding to this claim, Satish Salian was pointed: 'We will prove whether he knew her or not.' The statement signals the family's intention to pursue the matter through the CBI investigation.
Criticism of the Earlier SIT
The grieving father also turned his criticism on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was initially constituted to probe the case, alleging it failed to conduct any genuine investigation. 'They didn't conduct any probe and were rather busy in protecting the accused,' he alleged. The SIT's conduct, according to Satish Salian, was part of a broader effort by influential individuals to suppress the truth about his daughter's death.
Background and What Comes Next
Disha Salian, who had served as manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on 8 June 2020 in Mumbai. Her death, which preceded Sushant Singh Rajput's death by a few days, has remained mired in controversy, with the family consistently challenging the official accident narrative. The CBI's registration of an FIR — triggered by a Bombay High Court directive — marks a significant procedural escalation. How the agency proceeds with its probe, including whether it summons the named individuals for questioning, will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.