The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in connection with the 2020 death of Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, nearly two weeks after the Bombay High Court directed the central agency to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
On September 2, a Division Bench of Justice S V Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale directed the CBI to register a case and conduct an investigation into Salian’s death. The Court directed that a senior and experienced officer be assigned to the probe.
The Bench also clarified that no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerged against them during the investigation. It further directed that if the CBI investigation did not disclose any criminality, the agency should submit an appropriate summary report before the competent court.
The CBI probe follows a petition filed by Salian’s father, Satish Salian, seeking registration of an FIR and a fresh investigation. He had alleged that his daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered and sought a probe by the central agency.
Salian, 28, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a high-rise residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. The Mumbai Police had initially registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in connection with the incident. Salian, who worked as a celebrity manager, had been associated with Rajput, who died six days later at his Bandra residence.
The High Court had extensively examined the manner in which the Mumbai Police handled the matter. The Bench questioned why the case had remained subject to an ADR inquiry for several years without registration of an FIR despite allegations raising suspicion about the circumstances of Salian’s death.
The Court also examined whether an inquiry into an unnatural death under Section 174 of the CrPC, corresponding to Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), could substitute a regular investigation into a cognizable offence.
The Bench noted that such an inquiry could not serve as a clean chit regarding allegations of a cognizable offense, while clarifying that it was not concluding that Salian had been raped or murdered.
The Maharashtra government had defended the Mumbai Police investigation, relying on spot panchnamas, witness statements, forensic material, CCTV footage and mobile call records to contend that no foul play had emerged.
The State also relied on the statement of Salian’s fiancé, Rohan Roy. A Special Investigation Team had earlier examined the matter and, in July 2025, informed the High Court that it had found no foul play in Salian’s death, although its investigation was continuing.
The petition was opposed by senior advocate Sudeep Pasbola, appearing for Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, whose name had figured in the allegations.
Pasbola argued that the petition was politically motivated, alleging that Salian’s father was being used by political rivals as a tool to target Thackeray. Thackeray has denied the allegations and maintained that the proceedings were an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
Satish Salian had initially told the police in 2020 that he did not suspect foul play and was satisfied with the investigation. He subsequently changed his position and approached the High Court seeking a fresh probe, alleging that his daughter had been gang-raped and murdered.
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