Nitasha Natu (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 11, 2020)

Mumbai: Police have recorded the statement of celebrity manager Disha Salian’s friend whom she spoke to last over phone on the night she died. The friend has told investigators Salian was upset after two professional deals did not work out. Investigators said the statement makes it clear there was no link between Salian’s death on June 9 and that of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14.

Police said she had interacted with Rajput at least two months before her death and the interactions were professional. On June 8, she went to her boyfriend’s 12th floor apartment at Jankalyan Nagar in Malad where common friends had also come down for a party.

Police said they have recorded statements of more than 20 people including Salian’s parents and others present at the party. She made the video call to her friend who is based abroad around midnight. The friend recently returned to India and spoke to the police last week. The friend said Salian was very upset and was weeping. “Two work-related deals had not gone in her favour. In fact, one of the deals was taken away from her and handed over to a colleague,” said a senior officer. “Her friend tried to console her and also spoke to others at the party, telling them to look after Salian,” the officer said.

Later that night, Salian allegedly jumped off a window. “Residents were summoned downstairs around 1.15am. She was fully dressed (some media reports have said she wasn’t). When her friends lifted her into their car, she was still alive. However, she was declared dead on arrival at a hospital,” a society resident said.

Salian’s father hung up when TOI called him for a comment.

With speculation rife on social media, police are going over the case again to tie any loose ends. On Sunday, two policemen visited the scene of the incident again and made inquiries.