Showing posts with label Disha Salian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disha Salian. Show all posts
I don’t want to be the soft target anymore-Sooraj Pancholi
3:34 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 6, 2026)
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian, who died in June 2020 allegedly after falling from a high-rise building in Malad. The judges ordered the CBI to appoint a senior and an experienced officer to carry out the investigation in the case.
The judges, while ordering a CBI probe made it clear that "no one will be treated as an accused, unless the I.O finds substantiate material against someone". The order comes on a plea filed by Disha's father, who claimed that his daughter was gang-raped and murdered. He alleged that various influential people had an active role behind the murder.
(Disha's father) Satish Salian's lawyer, Advocate Nilesh Ojha told the press, "The court issued a clear order directing the CBI to register an FIR in this matter and record Satish Salian's statement. FIR ke baad hoga investigation. Jinjinkay khilaf saboot milenge woh aaropi banenge, jinkay khilaf saboot nahi milenge woh aaropi nahi hongay. FIR mien naam sabka hoga, whoever Satish Salian thinks is responsible." The list also includes the name of actor Sooraj Pancholi.
In an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times, Sooraj Pancholi stated, "I spoke to you for your Bombay Times report in 2020 and I repeat, I didn't know who Disha Salian is, never met her in my life, never spoke to her on the phone, never attended any event or party of hers. In my previous legal battle, I learnt my lesson that keeping quiet does not help. Silence cost me as people spread misinformation on social media. Even this time, my family doesn't want me to speak up. They want me to stay away from all this. I am focussing on my career in films but I don’t want to be the soft target anymore. I don’t want to be dragged into this without any proof and subjected to that trauma all over again.”
The actor revealed, “I voluntarily gave my statement to the CBI and the Malvani police in 2021 about Disha Salian. I have never met her in my life. I have no connection with her whatsoever. I want her father to get justice. If there’s any evidence against me, please put me behind bars but if there isn’t, you need to stop dragging me unnecessarily. It’s unfair. I don’t care who is accused, who isn’t, I have nothing to do with her case, and I am ready to give as many statements as needed. The biggest lesson I have learnt is to speak up. People need to stop portraying me as a villain. I cannot revisit that trauma and perception warfare.”
Disha Salian died by suicide, Mumbai Police tells Bombay High Court
9:07 AM
MID-DAY (July 4, 2025)
Former celebrity manager Disha Salian died by suicide and no foul play has been found in her death, the Mumbai police have submitted to the Bombay High Court, even as her father Satish Salian reiterated she was gangraped and murdered.
Disha had jumped off the window of a flat out of her own volition, and the postmortem report mentions no signs of sexual and/or physical assault on the deceased, the police said in an affidavit filed before the HC last month. She was under tremendous mental stress due to a dispute with her family and also because her business deals were not working out, the affidavit added.
The former celebrity manager died on June 8, 2020, after falling off the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad. Satish filed a petition in the HC in March this year, seeking a probe by the CBI into his daughter’s death and an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray. In the plea, he alleged that she was raped and murdered, and subsequently, there was a politically orchestrated cover-up.
The petition came up for hearing on Wednesday before an HC bench, which posted it for further hearing on July 16.
The Malvani police first probed the case and in their affidavit said Disha had died by suicide due to mental stress, a dispute with her family, and because her business deals were not working out. She was drunk at the time of the incident, and even her fiancé, who was with her at the time, had ruled out any foul play or suspicion. Even her postmortem report does not indicate anything suspicion about the death, the affidavit said.
The police also said the contentions raised by Satish in his plea were baseless and unfounded. “The postmortem report is conclusive in nature and mentions no signs of sexual and/or physical assault,” the affidavit said.
It also claimed that after the closure report was filed, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to further probe the case and that even the SIT’s findings are coherent with the earlier findings of the police. “However, further investigation is still being carried out,” it said.
Satish, in an application submitted on Wednesday, however, said once information disclosing the commission of a cognizable offence is received, the police must register an FIR and then probe it. He said the SIT has been probing a serious case of gangrape and murder without first registering an FIR, which is grossly illegal.
There has been willful disobedience of the court order as an affidavit was sought from the Maharashtra government and not the police, he claimed.
Aaditya Thackeray also filed an application, seeking to intervene in the matter and urged the HC to grant him a hearing before passing any order.
Disha Salian case: Closure report cited father’s betrayal as a factor
8:32 AM
Police had cited financial betrayal by her father as one of the reasons for her depression; closure report states suicide as cause of death
Samiullah Khan (MID-DAY; March 28, 2025)
Satish Salian, the father of Disha Salian—who recently filed a petition accusing several high-profile figures for his daughter’s death—was named in the earlier police closure report as one of the factors contributing to her alleged depressive state on the night of her death. The Malwani police’s closure report, submitted after investigating Disha Salian’s alleged suicide on June 8, 2020, states that apart from failed projects and misunderstandings with friends, her father had misused her hard-earned money, spending it on a female employee at his spice-making unit in Thane.
Disha had confided in a few friends, including her fiancé, about this betrayal. On June 2, 2020, after confronting her father over the money transfers, she moved to stay at her fiancé Rohan Roy’s flat in Jankalyan Nagar. Following an extensive probe, which included evidence collection and witness statements, the Malwani police concluded that Disha had died by suicide. The closure report was filed on February 4, 2021.
The fatal night
On the night between June 8 and 9, 2020, Disha allegedly jumped from the 12th floor of Regent Galaxy Tower in Jankalyan Nagar, Malad. She was rushed to Evershine Nursing Home, then to Tunga Hospital, and finally to Shatabdi Hospital, where she was declared brought dead.
The investigation revealed that the flat from which she jumped belonged to her fiancé, Rohan Roy. Disha and Rohan had been in a relationship since 2014 and got engaged in 2017, with plans to marry after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salian had initially been living in Dadar Naigaon with her parents, but after purchasing the flat in Malad, she split her time between both places. Until the lockdown, she and Rohan were living at her father’s house in Naigaon, but they moved to the Malad flat on June 4, 2020. Further investigations revealed that Roy, an actor and model, had worked in several TV serials, while Salian was a celebrity manager and had previously worked with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
The Malwani police determined that at the time of the incident, Salian’s fiancé Roy was present, along with her childhood school and college friends—Indranil Vaidya, Deep Ajmera, Himanshu Shikhre, and Resha Padwal. Upon discovering the incident, they rushed Salian to the hospital and also informed her parents, Satish and Vasanthi Salian, over the phone, asking them to reach Shatabdi Hospital in the early hours of June 9, 2020.
An inquest panchnama was conducted at Shatabdi Hospital in the presence of witnesses. Salian’s clothes and belongings were collected and sent for forensic examination. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a swab test was also conducted, and her body was kept for one to two days pending the results. Once the COVID test returned negative, an autopsy was performed at Bhagwati Hospital in Borivli. The autopsy report confirmed that Salian died due to multiple injuries, indicating an unnatural death. The police recorded statements from Salian’s friends, fiancé Roy, and her parents.
“Everyone stated that Salian was under stress due to business and family issues. She was working as a celebrity manager at Cornerstone Company, and two of the projects she was handling had stalled, which left her upset. All of Salian's friends and her fiancé Roy also stated in their police statements that she had confided in them about her father’s affair and how he had spent the money she gave him for business on another woman. This deeply saddened her,” the report said.
Party on June 8
As per the closure report Salian hosted a birthday party for her friends Indranil and Deep at her flat on June 8, 2020. The gathering started at 7 pm on June 8, with music and alcohol and Disha on the night of her death was was drunk. Around 11.45 pm, Salian received a call from her London-based friend, Ankita, and went to the bedroom. Indranil, Deep, Rohan, Risha, and Himanshu later joined her. Eventually, Himanshu returned to the hall, followed by Salian, who appeared distressed.
Shortly after, Salian locked herself inside the bedroom. When Rohan’s friends noticed her absence, they informed him. He knocked but got no response. Assuming she was in the bathroom, he initially ignored it. After knocking again with no answer, they forced open the door, finding the room empty. The bathroom was vacant too. Seeing the open window, they looked outside and found Salian lying near a parked car.
Satisfied with investigation
Her parents accepted the police investigation, which concluded suicide as the cause of death. However, following Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, fresh claims led to a reinvestigation. The final closure report reaffirmed suicide, with no note found. Statements from Salian's friends, parents, and all individuals who visited the building between June 4 and June 9, 2020, were recorded. Additionally, the statements of everyone who called Disha on or before the day of the incident were documented.
Call data records, CCTV footage of the building, and a clone of Disha's mobile phone data were preserved. Statements from witnesses, relatives, and friends were also considered. Forensic and post-mortem reports were thoroughly analysed, and based on all collected evidence, it was concluded that ADR number 85/2020, registered with Malwani police, was a case of suicide.
The reason for the suicide was not explicitly disclosed, and no suicide note was found. The police recorded detailed statements from Salian’s father, Satish, and mother, Vasanthi, who did not raise any complaints, leading to the registration of an Accidental Death Report (ADR).
Social media allegations
Social media later fueled allegations of gang rape and political involvement after Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide. On July 9, 2020, Salian’s father filed a complaint against three YouTubers for defaming his daughter. In 2023, he also filed a complaint against former Union Minister Narayan Rane and his son Nitesh. Currently, both are out on bail.
Fresh petition
The case resurfaced after Satish Salian filed a petition , alleging his daughter was raped and murdered. His petition names high-profile figures, including Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, ex-Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh, and dismissed officer Sachin Waze, demanding a case against all accused in the 2020 incident.
Other side
The reporter attempted to contact Disha's father, Satish Salian, for his response, but he did not reply to messages or calls. However, his lawyer, Nilesh Ojha, provided a statement, saying: “It is important to note that as per the binding judgment of the Supreme Court, any closure report filed in an enquiry under Section 174 CrPC (Accidental Death Report/ADR) has no evidentiary value and cannot be relied upon by the accused in cases where cognizable offences are clearly disclosed. Therefore, the earlier closure report holds no legal weight.”
Disha Salian’s case unaffected by Sushant Singh closure report, says lawyer
8:31 AM
Petition by Disha Salian’s father, filed five years after her death, alleges that she murdered and that her death is linked to Sushant Singh Rajput’s
Faizan Khan (MID-DAY; March 26, 2025)
Following the closure report in the Sushant Singh Rajput case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), filed after four and a half years, the petition filed by Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, before the Bombay High Court is facing backlash. The petition, filed five years after Disha’s death, alleges that she was murdered and that her death is linked to Rajput’s, claiming both were killed in a similar manner.
The CBI’s closure report stated that there was no foul play involved in Rajput’s death. Advocate Nilesh Ojha, representing Disha’s father, clarified that the closure report does not have any bearing on the gang rape and death case of Disha.
Addressing supports of Rajput, Ojha said, “Warm greetings to all of you who have relentlessly stood for truth, justice, and accountability in the case of the mysterious deaths of our beloved Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian. Today, news has surfaced that the CBI has filed a closure report in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Firstly, this news is yet to be confirmed by the CBI.”
He continued, “Even if it is true, this development has caused disappointment, confusion, and a sense of betrayal among many supporters and citizens who have fought for a fair and thorough investigation.”
Talking about the legal aspects, he said, “A closure report filed by any investigative agency, including the CBI, does not amount to acquittal or final disposal of the case. Its acceptance depends entirely upon judicial scrutiny and the satisfaction of the court. In fact, the Indian judiciary has time and again rejected closure reports and directed further investigation or even proceeded to take cognisance of the offences despite the closure plea.”
Ojha further assured supporters, saying, “Let me assure you all that we are not at the end of the road. On the contrary, this is just another legal hurdle that we are prepared to tackle with full force. We are filing a protest petition before the court challenging the closure report, seeking further investigation by another agency or SIT under judicial supervision, initiating prosecution against CBI officials under sections 218, 192, 193, and 120(B) of the IPC for dereliction of duty, suppression of material facts, or filing a false and misleading report before the court. We will also continue the legal battle for an independent inquiry into larger conspiracies, custodial interference, and procedural lapses.”
He emphasized that even if the two cases are interconnected in certain aspects, they nonetheless constitute distinct and serious criminal offences.
“As per the well-established principles of criminal jurisprudence, each case must be investigated, assessed, and adjudicated independently, based exclusively on the evidence available in that particular case,” he said.
Ojha reiterated that the alleged closure report—assuming it pertains to the Sushant Singh Rajput case—has no bearing whatsoever, nor does it confer any legal advantage upon the accused persons.
CBI closes Sushant Singh Rajput death case, clears Rhea Chakraborty
8:09 AM
Raj Shekhar Jha (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 23, 2025)
New Delhi/Mumbai: Four-and-a half years after it began probing the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the CBI is learned to have closed the case and given a clean chit to actor Rhea Chakraborty, bringing curtains on a case that had gripped the country, reports Rajshekhar Jha. Rajput was found dead at his Bandra flat on June 14, 2020.
The probe agency is learned to have filed a closure report in two of the cases it was investigating, sources said. While one case was filed in Aug 2021 in Patna by Rajput's father against Rhea, her kin and others, the other was filed in Sept by Rhea against Rajput's sister and doctor.
CBI closure reports in 2 cases tied to Rajput death filed in Patna, Mumbai
The closure report in both was filed in a special Mumbai court, sources said. Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde said, "Rhea Chakraborty had to undergo untold miseries and was behind bars for 27 days for no fault of hers until Justice Sarang V Kotwal released her on bail. I salute her and her family for having kept silent and yet suffered the inhuman treatment they were meted out. Innocent people were hounded and paraded before the media and investigative authorities. I hope this does not repeat in any case."
Rajput was found dead at his Bandra apartment on June 14, 2020, six days after his PR manager Disha Salian died. Mumbai police, which first probed the case, termed it as a case of suspected suicide, although no suicide note had been found. The provisional post-mortem suggested the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging.
Coincidentally, on Wednesday, Disha's father Satish Salian alleged his daughter was gangraped and murdered. He has filed a plea demanding a CBI probe into her death, alleging that Rajput was visibly frightened and repeatedly expressed fear that "those people" responsible for her death would not spare him and that he would be killed. He has said both deaths are interconnected and part of a larger conspiracy.
The CBI FIR in Rajput's case named Rhea and her kin Indrajit Chakraborty, Sandhya and Showik apart from her associates Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi.
The FIR, initially filed by Bihar police, had sections of IPC related to criminal conspiracy, abetment of suicide, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation.
After Rajput's cremation at Vile Parle's Pawan Hans crematorium, Mumbai police began their investigation, recording statements from film and casting director Mukesh Chhabra, Rajput's girlfriend Rhea, and his managerial staff. In July that year, producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali was questioned, stating he had offered Rajput four films, but eventually featured in none.
Rhea, who confirmed being in a relationship with Rajput on Twitter (now X), demanded a CBI inquiry. Mumbai police also recorded statements of filmmaker Aditya Chopra and three psychiatrists. Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against Rhea in Patna on July 28, and a team of Bihar police reached Mumbai to probe the case.
The Enforcement Directorate inquired about the money laundering angle in the case and questioned Rhea but they found no substance against her. Subsequently, the NCB initiated a probe against her along with others on allegations of procurement of drugs for Rajput which led to her arrest. In Aug 2021, the CBI filed an FIR against Rhea and others, and the ED too summoned her for questioning.
An AIIMS forensic team was roped in by the CBI on August 22, and the ED unearthed a drug angle in the case, involving the Narcotics Control Bureau.
In September 2021, Rhea filed an FIR against Rajput's sisters and doctor, which was transferred to the CBI as well.
This is the second case which has been closed as well, sources said. In October, reports emerged that the AIIMS panel had dismissed the murder theory, although the CBI stated they were probing all angles.
Govt to fast-track SIT probe into Disha Salian's death as BJP & Shiva Sena train guns on Aaditya Thackeray
2:57 PM
Chaitanya Marpakwar & Clara Lewis (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 21, 2025)
Mumbai: Maharashtra's junior home minister Yogesh Kadam told the legislative assembly Thursday that the SIT probe into Disha Salian's death would be fast-tracked and "no one will be spared". Salian, former manager of deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020.
The statement was made as BJP and Shiv Sena MLAs sought to know when the SIT would conclude its probe. Their demand came a day after Disha's father prepared a petition to be filed in Bombay HC asking for a fresh probe into her death and "custodial interrogation" of Aaditya Thackeray in the case.
Uproar in both Houses over Disha death
The legislative assembly was adjourned for ten minutes Thursday after BJP and Shiv Sena MLAs demanded a thorough probe into the Disha Salian death case and asked when the SIT, formed in Dec 2022 to probe the matter, would conclude its investigation and submit its report.
Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said the SIT probe was ongoing and its report had not been submitted yet. “Disha Salian’s father has filed a petition in HC, the state govt has also been made party to it. So once we get directions from the HC, we will take stern and appropriate action. The law is the same for all, we will not spare anyone,” he said.
The issue was raised by BJP MLA Ameet Satam through a point of information and backed by Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar and Sena minister Shambhuraje Desai.
The legislative council was also adjourned three times, with the Salian issue raised by Sena MLC Manisha Kayande leading to the second adjournment. The opposition accused chairman Ram Shinde of bias, and Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab reacted strongly. Satam said, “There is big suspicion about this case.
Even after 2 years, the SIT has not given any conclusion. Now Disha’s father has alleged Disha was gang-raped and murdered. He has said the MVA govt tried to bury the case. The then mayor of Mumbai met the family and misled them and asked them to avoid talking about the case.
They were asked not to seek any probe and pressure was put on them. They are now sure... a minister in the then govt is responsible and incident happened because of that minister. This is very serious. Just because someone is powerful and born with a silver spoon… this is very unfortunate.” He further said, “By when will the SIT report and conclusion be put before the public? Will those named by Satish Salian, including the then minister and mayor, be interrogated in custody?”
In the council, after Sena’s Kayande raised the issue, BJP group leader Pravin Darekar said Disha’s father’s petition mentioned “gang-rape, pressure exerted by former mayor Kishori Pednekar on the Salians not to pursue the matter, minister Nitesh Rane’s accusations being true, and it mentioned Aaditya Thackeray and (actor) Dino Morea.” Darekar demanded the inquiry be handed over to the CBI. BJP’s Chitra Wagh demanded the SIT report be made public.
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Bid to defame me, says Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav backs him
Chaitanya Marpakwar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 21, 2025)
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and party chief Uddhav Thackeray hit back at the Mahayuti over allegations in the Disha Salian death case on Thursday, with Aaditya saying there were continuous attempts to defame him and tarnish his reputation for the last five years and that he would respond to questions in court.
Uddhav Thackeray said every time the legislature session begins, the Salian issue is brought up. Uddhav said Aaditya had "no connection" with the case at all, but if politics were to be taken in the wrong direction, everyone would be hurt. He also said that if BJP was "building things on lies, it would backfire on them."
"How did this issue not come up in the last 2-3 sessions? I was surprised by this. Every time this issue is brought up, there is nothing new in it. Farmers' pyres are burning; who is responsible for it? Farmers' mothers and sisters are suffering. Many were killed, like in the (sarpanch) Santosh Deshmukh case.
Their children are demanding justice. What is the govt's position on this? Whatever Disha Salian's lawyer says, he should tell it in court. Many generations of our family are before the public," Uddhav said.
Aaditya said what was important was that UBT Sena and MVA had exposed the govt in the budget session of the state legislature. "I have been talking about real issues for the past five years; I will only talk about real issues... Not only us, the RSS has also exposed the govt. They have also said the Aurangzeb issue is not relevant. So will BJP netas now demand action against them?" he asked.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Disha's father was under pressure now to reopen the case. He said parents whose daughter has passed away do not remain silent for five years and added this was an attempt to defame the Thackeray family.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also attacked the BJP, accusing it of politicizing actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death for elections and claimed that the party would do politics over Disha Salian after her father sought a probe into her death.
Aaditya said if the ruling party wants to adjourn proceedings of the House on the Salian issue, they could do so. "BJP has not included any of the ten promises in its manifesto in the budget. We exposed them on Aurangzeb, on Hindutva. One minister even had to resign. After all this, why should the House be shut down? They are doing it in my name. Let the House be closed. But people are asking the question: you are an MLA from the ruling party. We have elected you to work. Talk about Maharashtra. Discuss real issues," he said.
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Files petition in HC, claiming police, hospital authorities were involved in cover-up, suppressed forensic evidence
Faizan Khan (MID-DAY; March 21, 2025)
The father of Disha Salian, actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager who died off a fall from the 14th floor of a Malad building in June 2020, has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court alleging a cover-up in the probe into her death.
Salian died on June 8, 2020. Rajput died by suicide on June 14 at his Bandra home. Salian’s father Satish has claimed that the two deaths are related and the police covered-up the involvement of certain high-profile people, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
The petition alleges that Mumbai police suppressed key evidence early in the investigation and hastily closed the case as a suicide without properly considering forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts, and circumstantial proof.
CBI probe demanded
Salian is demanding a CBI probe and custodial interrogation of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, including scientific tests such as brain mapping and lie detector tests. He asserts that former NCB director Sameer Wankhede uncovered evidence linking Rhea Chakraborty with Thackeray. The petition alleges that Aaditya, implicated in drug and child trafficking, was informed of Disha’s intent to expose the network, leading to her murder. It also accuses influential political figures, media entities, and police officials of fabricating a false narrative to protect their interests.
Salian further claims that officers from Malvani police station, along with Disha’s fiancé Rohan Rai and then-Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, pressured him into accepting the official version that dismissed his daughter’s death as an accident. His petition cites various news reports, YouTube discussions, and statements from Union Minister Narayan Rane and Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane, who have described the death as murder and hinted at further evidence.
According to the petition, a party was held at Disha’s Malad apartment on the night of June 8, 2020, attended initially by her fiancé and close friends. The gathering later escalated with the unexpected arrival of high-profile individuals and their bodyguards. The petition alleges that Disha was brutally gang-raped—restrained and violently assaulted—with eyewitness accounts and forensic inconsistencies supporting this claim, despite a rushed cremation that bypassed proper post-mortem analysis.
It further contends that she was murdered to silence her, as the perpetrators feared she would expose their crimes. The petition claims senior police officers and politicians were immediately involved in a cover-up, making calls to suppress evidence, control the media narrative, intimidate eyewitnesses, and close the case without proper investigation. It alleges that her body was moved and staged, with its condition and positioning inconsistent with a natural fall from a high-rise. Eyewitnesses claim that no blood was found at the alleged impact site or on her clothes, contradicting the theory of a fall from the 14th floor. The official case file is also said to contain doctored images falsely depicting the body in a pool of blood.
The petition highlights that mobile location records placing the accused at the scene were ignored, and digital forensic evidence—including phone records and text messages—was allegedly erased or altered to support a false suicide narrative. The police are accused of deliberately delaying the post-mortem for over 50 hours, purportedly to manipulate and destroy evidence of gang rape, resulting in a fabricated report that merely noted head trauma and multiple injuries.
Evidence against suicide
It also asserts that forensic evidence disproves the suicide theory. In genuine high-rise suicides, the impact force would cause heavy bleeding, multiple fractures, and internal damage. However, the petition argues that no such injuries were found on Disha or at the impact site. Even the clothes of those who transported her to the hospital reportedly showed no traces of blood.
“The delay was clearly aimed at destroying crucial forensic evidence, particularly that of sexual assault, to shield the main accused, Aaditya. The investigating officer attempted to justify this delay by citing COVID-19 protocols, but this contradicts how the Mumbai police handled other deaths at the time. For instance, the post-mortem of Sushant Singh Rajput was conducted on the same day of his death, June 14, 2020. Yet, for a female victim with possible evidence of sexual assault, the post-mortem was delayed by more than 50 hours. This clear discrepancy exposes the dishonesty of the investigating officers,” the petition states.
The petition also alleges the involvement of actress Rhea Chakraborty in the conspiracy and calls for her custodial interrogation, including brain mapping, lie detector, and narco-analysis tests. It highlights that Rhea abruptly left Sushant’s residence on June 8, 2020—the same day Disha died—and blocked his number, effectively cutting off communication.
Eyewitnesses claim that after Disha’s death, Sushant was visibly terrified and was reportedly sleeping in his parking area due to distress. He frequently changed his SIM cards, fearing for his life. The petition states that Sushant suspected a powerful group was targeting him and considered holding a press conference to expose the truth.
The petition claims Rhea Chakraborty abruptly left Sushant Singh Rajput’s residence on June 8, 2020—the same day Aaditya Thackeray allegedly visited Disha Salian’s flat. It cites phone records showing Rhea and Aaditya were in touch that day despite their claims of not knowing each other.
The petition alleges that Disha confided in Sushant about a crime she had witnessed—an elite party involving the sexual assault of a minor. Sushant, shaken, allegedly planned to expose it but was betrayed by Rhea. After Disha’s death, he became paranoid, changed SIM cards frequently, and even avoided sleeping in his bedroom. He reportedly told his staff he feared being killed.
Citing former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, the petition claims he found digital evidence linking Aaditya Thackeray and other Bollywood celebrities to alleged murder site. It further alleges Wankhede was “harassed” and politically targeted for exposing high-profile drug links and digital records of Aaditya and Rhea’s interactions.
“I am currently not in the state and was unaware of this. I just found out today that such a petition has been filed. The matter is sub judice, and I will abide by the court’s directions,” Sameer Wankhede told mid-day.
“The petition is in process and has gone to the clerk of the high court. It will be listed soon. We want justice for Disha Salian’s family, and we have also included an investigative article from mid-day that highlights lapses in the forensic examination and delays in submitting samples,” said Adv Nilesh Ojha, representing Salian’s family.
It’s very painful to revisit what happened years ago, says Disha Salian’s father
2:34 PM
Satish Salian talks about the investigation around Disha’s death being revived by the state government
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 9, 2023)
The past three years have been nothing short of a harrowing ordeal for the Salians. Their daughter, Disha Salian, a celebrity manager, passed away after falling from a 12th-floor flat in Malad, on the intervening night of June 8 and 9, 2020. The incident triggered a series of controversies and conspiracy theories for a long time. However, a year after her death, the Mumbai Police concluded the investigation, ruling out any foul play, and stated that she died by suicide.
The grieving parents have been gradually recovering and adjusting to life again. However, the family was back in the spotlight with reports of the Maharashtra government forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Disha Salian death case.
When contacted, her father Satish Ishwar Salian said, “I wouldn’t know what exactly happened that night because I wasn’t present at the location of the incident. It has always seemed like an accident to me. However, if the authorities suspect foul play and wish to investigate, they should ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
He added, “It is very painful to revisit what happened years ago and reopens old wounds each time it is brought up. It does disturb us, but we have to respond to queries regarding our daughter. We want to live in peace and have been requesting everyone to let us be. Humne last time bhi bola tha ki jo bhi hona tha ho gaya ab hamein shaanti se rehne do.”
‘Suffered a stroke and underwent surgery’
Disha’s father has been struggling with health issues for a long time now. He said, “I had suffered a paralytic stroke years before the tragic incident. In 2021, my left leg developed a severe infection and required surgery, which cost me around Rs. 10 lakh. To make ends meet, I have started a small business of making and selling chutney. I make about Rs. 500 a day. One has to do something to survive, and my sister is also helping me financially.”
After a decade, I was able to look my parents in the eye-Sooraj Pancholi
8:40 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2023)
In his first exclusive interview after being acquitted in the Jiah Khan suicide case on Friday, actor Sooraj Pancholi (30), reflects upon his decade-long trial coming to an end, his hopeful present and what lies ahead for him. In this conversation with us, the actor drops his guard like never before. Excerpts…
After 10 years you were declared not guilty by the Special CBI Court in the Jiah Khan case where you were accused of abetment to suicide. Talking to us at this point, what are your feelings?
It’s a huge weight off my shoulders. These past 10 years, even when I was in a relationship, I couldn’t give it my hundred per cent because my future was uncertain. I can now plan my life. No matter what you have in life, peace is what you need the most, beyond fame, money and success. I have not been at peace for the past 10 years. Every night before I slept, I thought about this. As I woke up, I thought about it and this happened to not just me, but my father (Aditya Pancholi), mother (Zarina Wahab) and sister (Sana). I am yet to come to terms with the fact that it is over. I am still getting used to me being a free man. It hasn’t sunk in yet.
Today, how do you remember Jiah Khan and the relationship you two shared?
I sent a friend request to Jiah on Facebook. She was a beautiful girl and had done a few films. She reverted about a year later and we became friends. I was in a relationship with Jiah for only five months and I didn’t know the magnitude of what she was going through. She needed love not from her boyfriend, but her family too. She wanted them to support and understand her.
Jiah had a lot of pressure to support her family - two younger stepsisters, mother and her partner. She was the only earning member and she wasn’t getting the kind of work that would help her in doing so. I didn’t know the gravity of the situation then as a 20-year-old, but I had informed her mother about her depression and that she needed help. Back then, there wasn’t much awareness about mental health. She didn’t have that emotional support from them. She only had me.
When I had initially met Jiah and we weren’t in a relationship, she had tried to slit her hand wanting to end her life in 2012. I had called Rabiya ji in London, and she told me she will be in Mumbai on the next flight, but she didn’t show up for months. Was this a normal parent-child relationship? I was there for her and during that time, we fell in love. She was a wonderful person but my love for her wasn’t enough. She needed familial love. There’s so much I could have said in court, but I didn’t because I want the family to have peace, but accusing me is not the way. The court has observed that the suicide letter presented as Jiah’s was not written by her and was submitted to the police days after it was given to the media. The judgement copy states, ‘The circumstances create serious suspicion regarding the actual author of the said letter.’
All these years, did you feel ostracized or judged by people even before the courts gave their verdict. How did you deal with it?
From the moment I stepped out of my house to the time I got back, I felt trapped, breathless, and judged every day. Especially in showbiz, perception is everything. At any event, I was the last person to reach and the first to leave. Even when they were probably not judging me, I felt that way. There was this constant pressure, a feeling that people don’t want to be around me or seen with me and that is the worst feeling ever… the thought of being unwanted. When this happened to me, I was not a part of the industry. I was accused in 2013 and my first film came out in 2015. I did sense a bit of hesitation and hostility. I was removed from projects. The films that I was working on were stopped midway. Every time I tried to move on, some fake reports in the media and vicious online trolling held me back.
At one point you even went black on social media to register your outrage.
I was so fed up. Baseless accusations and bizarre conspiracy theories connected me to the death of Disha Salian (celebrity manager), which I had nothing to do with! When you are in the dirt, it’s easy to put some more dirt on you. It was horrible! I don’t speak about my problems to anyone. I don’t share my inner turmoil even with my parents because I don’t want them to suffer. On Friday, after a decade I looked my parents in the eye. We wouldn’t speak about this case (Jiah Khan) in the house. I would discuss it with my lawyers, but never with my family. My mother wanted to accompany me to court for the verdict, so you saw her there. My sister stayed with my father at home. For 10 years, I went to the court alone. I didn’t want them to see what I was facing in court or going through in life. I don’t vent, I have trained myself to be this way. The only time I cried was when I entered my house after the acquittal. That was closure for me.
Despite the verdict, a certain section might continue to troll you. How do you feel about that?
I must make this clear. Eight years ago, as an accused, I had a right to be discharged based on insufficient evidence against me, but my family and I opted to undergo trial. It was my decision to face trial. I had a discharge order from the Bombay HC, but I wanted the truth to come out. Had I been discharged, people would have assumed that I got away because I am ‘influential’. I am sure people even today might think that Sooraj got away, but I did not. I have hardly spoken about this case in the media, so it was easy for people to think that I was the bad guy. I want people to go through my judgement letter. It has all the details. They can then decide for themselves.
Your proximity to Salman Khan is often spoken about. In 2015, he even launched you with Hero, a film that he produced.
Salman Khan is not a friend of my father or mother. Of course, they know each other as they all work in the same industry. I was an AD on Ek Tha Tiger and he had told me that he will produce my first film. I was accused in 2013 two years before that film (Hero) came out, and he still produced that film and stood by me. He has done more than anyone else for me, but I know my limits and I won’t exploit that bond. I have met him a hundred times, but never for work. He was the first person I messaged as soon as I left the court. He had told me, ‘Sooraj, if you know in your heart that you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.’ I knocked on everyone’s door for work in these last 10 years. Corporates and studios didn’t want to work with someone who had travel restrictions and a sword dangling over his head. They wanted me to have a clean chit first. I feel reborn now and I am ready to work.
Rabiya Khan has maintained that her child was murdered and abetment to suicide was a wrong charge. Are you ready to continue with your fight?
This is no longer about justice but harassment. I just want her to leave me alone. There is no revenge to take from me. I have done nothing wrong. Baseless allegations were made against me, and nothing was proved in court except that I was in a relationship with her. The mother just wants to take the guilt off her shoulders and put it on someone else. She needs a person to be blamed so that she feels at peace. Jiah didn’t have a father. She met him once when she was a baby. Her mother moved houses, she came to Mumbai at 16 to become an actor and she had been supporting her family financially since then. No other person was investigated except for me because I was her boyfriend. Is being in a relationship or loving somebody a crime? As a 20-year-old boy, I tried to help Jiah as much as I could. There’s nothing more that I could have done. Today, I am 10 years more mature, more aware about mental health. I could have strived harder to save her had it happened now.
BT Exclusive: Rohan Rai to tie the knot with Sheen Dass on April 22
8:12 AM
Rohan, who has been in the news since the tragic death of his fiancée Disha Salian in 2020, is all set to start a new chapter in his life
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 19, 2023)
In November last year, we had reported about TV actor Rohan Rai starting life afresh two years after the tragic demise of his girlfriend of seven years and fiancée, celebrity manager Disha Salian. Her death in June 2020 caused a stir resulting in several conspiracy theories. However, after investigations, the Mumbai Police said that she died by suicide.
Rohan has given love another chance and is in a relationship with his Piyaa Albela co-actor, Sheen Dass. The couple is set to take the plunge on April 22 in Kashmir, where Sheen’s parents were born. Pre-wedding rituals, including haldi and mehendi, will be performed a day prior.
Talking about tying the knot in Kashmir, Rohan says, “Sheen’s family gets quite emotional whenever they talk about Kashmir, so we wanted to build some beautiful memories there. The wedding will be a two-day intimate ceremony. Besides our families, a few close industry friends have been invited.”
The former co-actors were barely in touch after their show Piyaa Albela wrapped up in August 2018. Sheen reconnected with Rohan after Disha’s untimely demise. Rohan recalls, “We were cordial during the shoot and became close friends when I was going through a rough patch personally.”
Sheen adds, “What happened was very unfortunate. When we started talking, it would break my heart to see him go through all that. I was concerned for him as a friend. Now that we are getting married, I tell everyone I am marrying a friend. One day, I told him that I was meeting marriage prospects and he should also give marriage a serious thought. That’s when he asked me if I would consider spending a year to understand each other and see if we could spend our lives together. The best thing about our relationship is that we are compatible, and he is emotionally available.”
Rohan admits he feared getting into a relationship initially, but love happens when you are least expecting it. He says, “It would be difficult not to remember Disha when I would revisit places where we hung out. I didn’t want to get into a relationship on the rebound. Falling in love with Sheen was an organic process.”
With time, they realised that they had a lot in common — like their taste in music, the idea of spirituality and family values. Rohan adds, “I was grieving when Sheen and I started talking. While I had to do a lot of explaining with people, only a handful assured me that this, too, shall pass, and Sheen was one of them. She never lost trust in me. I could tell her anything; she was my anchor.”
Sheen says, “Neither of us proposed to each other officially. We just knew our friendship had blossomed into something more.”
Rohan has vowed to take care of Disha’s family and shares a close bond with her mother. While talking about his emotional attachment to them, Sheen says, “I respect his feelings and don’t want him to be any other way. Even if you are in a relationship or marriage, the person has a life of his own. I don’t intend to replace Disha, but make my place in his life. Healing is a gradual process and I want him to take as much time as he needs to overcome his pain.”
Rohan was subjected to massive social media backlash after Disha’s death. Do they fear negativity online about their marriage? “There can be. Even if there is, we will deal with it as one unit. We can only hope there is none. We look forward to embarking on a new journey together,” they reply.
SIT for Disha Salian case, announces Devendra Fadnavis
8:36 AM
Chittaranjan Tembhekar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 23, 2022)
Nagpur: The state on Thursday announced that it would form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of Disha Salian, manager of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, reports Chittaranjan Tembhekar.
Salian died on June 8, 2020 after a fall from the 14th floor of a Malad building, a week before Rajput was also found dead at his home.
Replying to a demand from MLAs of the ruling BJP Shinde Sena combine that Salian’s death be probed, deputy CM Fadnavis called upon those with clinching evidence to hand it over to police.
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Mumbai: The high-profile Disha Salian case was first raised in the House on Thursday by Bharat Gogavale, MLA of Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, the Sena faction led by chief minister Eknath Shinde. He was joined by BJP legislator Nitesh Rane, Ameet Satam, Madhuri Misal and Devyani Farande.
In November this year, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had hit out at the BJP after the CBI reportedly concluded that Salian’s death was an accident. CBI sources had however then said that they had not registered any case or conducted any specific probe into her death. As part of their probe into Rajput’s death, they had said, they had conducted some inquiry as she was his talent manager, but they had not arrived at any conclusion.
Nitesh Rane sought a “narco test” on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in connection with the deaths of Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian based on allegations levelled by Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale of the Shinde faction.
Shewale had asked on Wednesday about the status of the CBI probe into Rajput’s death and the possible involvement of influential people, including a senior figure in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. He said there were “44 calls from AU to (actress) Rhea Chakraborty” and alleged the Bihar police had concluded that “AU” was “Aaditya Uddhav.”
Questioning why Thackeray's name cropped up every time the deaths of Rajput and Disha Salian were discussed, Rane said the allegations made by Shewale must be taken seriously as he was close to the Thackeray family for a long time.
A “narco test” (narcoanalysis test) must be carried out on Aaditya Thackeray so that the truth about their deaths comes out, Rane told the media outside the Vidhan Bhavan complex.
The demand to probe the Salian case came in the wake of the opposition raising the phone tapping case in the House and also the alleged use of toilets in the Nagpur MLAs’ hostel to wash utensils used to serve breakfast to legislators.
Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar objected to the decision to form an SIT in the matter, pointing out that the CBI had already concluded the case and Salian’s parents too had requested that her image should not be maligned by repeatedly raising the issue of her death in public. Hence, Pawar said, the case should not be viewed from a political angle and should not be given a political twist.
Fadnavis clarified that the Salian case had never gone to the CBI, so there was no closure report and hence an SIT can be set up.
“Mumbai police are already investigating the case. Those who have proofs can hand them over for further probe through SIT,” Fadnavis announced amid sloganeering from the opposition as well as the ruling benches.
Fadnavis also pointed out in the House that the CBI had made it clear before the court in the Rajput case that they had not investigated the Salian case.
While Shiv Sena (UBT) and some NCP leaders had earlier alleged that the BJP had targeted the Thackeray family and tried to sully their reputation, Nitesh Rane had claimed that all evidence in the case had been destroyed by the police when the Maha Vikas Aghadi was in office.
In March, Nitesh had told the state assembly that he had a pen drive containing statements of an eyewitness to what he called Disha Salian’s “murder. ” He had said in the assembly, “The pen drive has an eyewitness who tells us that a state minister was involved...Salian was raped and killed.”
‘No CBI conclusion’ in Disha Salian's death; Shiv Sena (UBT) seeks BJP's apology
2:27 PM
Priyanka Kakodkar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 24, 2022)
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) lashed out at BJP after the CBI reportedly concluded that the death of Disha Salian, the talent manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, was an accident.
CBI sources, however, said they had not registered any case or carried out any specific probe into Salian’s death. Sources, however, said as part of the probe into Rajput’s death they had conducted some inquiry as she was his talent manager, but did not arrive at any conclusion.
Salian was found dead in June 2020 after falling from a high rise in Malad. Union minister Narayan Rane had claimed it being discussed that Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, then a state minister, was involved in the case. Both Rane and his son MLA Nitesh Rane had claimed that Salian had been raped and killed.
When contacted, Aaditya Thackeray merely said, “I do not want to get involved in this dirty politics. I do not want to fall into this mud. The report is a response to those who made allegations.”
However, his party was combative. “BJP leaders and its women leaders should immediately ask for Aaditya Thackeray’s forgiveness. Why did they try to ruin the reputation of a young leader?” asked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
Sena leader Arvind Sawant said, “. . . They tried to destroy his [Aaditya’s] reputation. Now this is a slap in their face. Having said that, Salian’s death was sad and unfortunate.”
NCP leader Supriya Sule also spoke out. “Such low-level politics was never seen in Maharashtra. They tried to destroy a family. This kind of thing goes against Maharashtra’s culture.”
Leader of Opposition inthe state assembly Ajit Pawar, however, refused to comment on this issue. “I have not seen the CBI report. . . Let it make the report public, then I will comment on it,” he said.
BJP’s Nitesh Rane hit back and claimed evidence had been destroyed by the police in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime in the “master of all cover ups”. He tweeted, “I don’t blame CBI for its observations in the Salian case. CBI entered only after 72 days. From June 8, the cleanup was done so well with the help of the MVA government that by the time CBI entered, nothing much could be recovered.”
In March, Nitesh had told the state assembly that he had a pen drive containing statements from an eyewitness to Salian’s “murder”. He had said in the assembly, “The pen drive has an eyewitness who tells us that a state minister was involved. . . Salian was raped and killed.”
I received thousands of threats and abuses, says Disha Salian’s fiancé Rohan Rai
8:40 AM
Disha Salian and Rohan Rai were in a relationship for seven years. Disha’s death in June 2020 created a stir, giving rise to a number of conspiracy theories. However, after investigations, the Mumbai Police closed the probe stating that she died by suicide
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 15, 2022)
It was a personal tragedy — the mysterious death of his fiancée, celebrity manager Disha Salian, after reportedly falling from their 12th-floor flat in Malad, on the intervening night of June 8 and 9, 2020 — that put model-actor Rohan Rai in the spotlight. The unfortunate incident triggered a series of controversies and conspiracy theories, some of which even held him responsible for it. He quit social media and disappeared from the public eye.
Now, after more than two years, he is ready to start afresh. In this interview, he talks about Disha’s sudden death, how his world turned upside down, moving on since then and his friendship with actress Sheen Dass. Excerpts…
Nobody knew where you were all this while. There were reports that you had disappeared as you had something to hide. Where have you been?
I was in Mumbai for a while to complete the police proceedings. Then I left with Disha’s parents for my father’s hometown, Gandhidham, in December 2020 and returned to Mumbai three months later. We wanted to be away from the noise around her demise. People were writing and showing on TV just about anything to grab eyeballs, without realizing how much it affected Disha’s family, mine, and me.
A year after Disha’s death, the Mumbai Police closed the probe ruling out any foul play, and stated that she died by suicide. Can you tell us what happened that night?
Disha was an extremely sensitive person. Back then, she was quite stressed about work and was under tremendous pressure after two of her deals fell through. She was an animal lover, too, and I remember that her condition was further triggered by the news of a pregnant elephant in Kerala, who had died after eating a pineapple filled with firecrackers on May 27. She was inconsolable. We lived together at her parents’ home in Dadar.
On June 4, I suggested that we go to our apartment in Malad, thinking that a change of environment would help her. In any case, we were planning to shift there after marriage. We were joined by four of our friends to cheer her up. For two-three days, we kept drinking. Disha had mixed her drinks, which she shouldn’t have because it used to leave her in a bad state. Her last call was to her school friend in London. Everything happened within five minutes.
I took the phone from Disha to talk to her friend, while she went to the master bedroom. A few minutes later, I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Since the door wasn’t locked, I opened it and saw some alcohol spilled over the bed. I assumed that she was changing her clothes in the bathroom and went back. A few minutes later, a friend and I knocked again. On getting no answer, I rushed into the bathroom but she wasn’t there. We searched the entire flat and started getting worried. We once again went inside the master bedroom and started checking the wardrobes as well. By this time, all of us were in a state of panic.
That’s when I noticed that the window in the master bedroom was open. When I looked down from there, I first recognized her pyjamas on the ground. I was zapped and asked my friend, ‘Kya hai yeh?’ I went into denial and started slapping myself. It felt like a bad dream. Then I stood on the parapet thinking that I would also jump. My friends pulled me back.
Soon, the police also arrived. They asked me to remove my clothes to examine my body for any fight marks and also searched the house. Some of our friends rushed Disha to the hospital. The first two hospitals denied entry, and the third one that agreed to admit her declared her dead on arrival.
It’s been two-and-a-half years since that incident. Have you healed now?
Back then, I would frequently have anxiety attacks. Disha and I were together for seven years. We lived at her parents’ home in Dadar and had a roka ceremony in 2018. After what happened, it was difficult for me to sleep, but waking up was tougher as everything felt like a bad dream. A lot of people told me that I need to look for an alternative career following the social media backlash. A friend then reminded me that the dream to become an actor wasn’t just mine, even Disha wanted it to happen. It has been difficult to accept that she is no more. About a year ago, I wasn’t even able to talk about it, but I have now realized that I will have to face it. Music is my solace. I play instruments, and that has helped me to recover to an extent.
How difficult was it to move on, given the mainstream media and social media backlash?
It was terrifying. I would receive thousands of nasty messages, threats and abuses. My friends also received many crude messages, and they would cry on the phone. I felt helpless and deactivated all my social media handles in September 2020. I rejoined only in May last year. Back then, Sooraj Pancholi’s name also surfaced and it was rumoured that Disha was pregnant with his child. A picture of him with some girls started doing the rounds and some claimed that one of them was Disha, which wasn’t true. All this was happening while we were grieving Disha. I have suffered for no fault of mine.
Did Disha ever work directly with Sushant Singh Rajput, who died on June 14, 2020?
Disha used to work for an agency and Sushant was one of their clients. She never managed him directly but had worked on two of his ad films at the behest of her colleagues. She had her own set of clients in the agency.
Now that you are back, is the situation getting better on the career front?
There was a time when I used to do 40 ads in a year. But, in the last two years, I shot just 12 ads and one film. A show on a streaming platform slipped out of my hands and I couldn’t fathom the reason. I didn’t have the courage to ask them either. But when I was dropped from a film, I was shattered and cried. You can’t take away everything from me. Every producer would ask me if I was facing any legal hassle and seek a written undertaking. I then decided to take a year-long break from acting. I have started to work on myself and I am grateful that things have started to fall into place again. I have done a few ad campaigns and have restarted script writing. I have also set up an animal welfare trust along with Disha’s mom.
You have vowed to take care of Disha’s parents…
Absolutely. They are my parents, too. They have loved me like their own son. All of us have faced a terrible loss. Also, Disha’s father has been having a lot of health issues. He is recovering now. I live in our Malad flat, as that was set up by Disha and me. I keep visiting aunty and uncle in Dadar.
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SHEEN AND I ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FULFILLING COMPANIONSHIP: ROHAN
Sheen and I acted together in the TV show Piyaa Albela (2017-2018). We were on cordial terms back then. In October last year, we had a reunion and met again. We share many common interests and during our conversations, I realised that Sheen, too, is passionate about animal welfare. When I told her about Disha’s dream project, she expressed a desire to be a part of it. She even met Disha’s mom during one of the welfare programmes we had organised in September last year. Our friendship grew stronger and it reached a stage where I could speak my heart out about everything that happened. She was the only person whom I could confide in, and the way she has helped me pull myself together, I feel she is Godsend. We are extremely close and are looking forward to a fulfilling companionship.
Stop spreading lies and harassing us, say Disha Salian's parents as new allegations are made
8:19 AM
Disha Salian’s mother hands over a letter to Mayor Kishori Pednekar and members of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women at their home. Pic/Twitter
As BJP legislator links tainted API Sachin Waze to case of their daughter Disha Salian’s death, parents urge politicians to leave family alone
Dharmendra Jore (MID-DAY; February 23, 2022)
Celebrity manager Disha Salian’s death in June 2020 continues to be a bone of contention between the Shiv Sena and BJP, even as her parents have issued a warning that politicians will be held responsible if their harassment leads them to taking their own lives. Vasanti and Satish Salian spoke to the media on Tuesday after BJP legislator Nitesh Rane hinted at the involvement of Sachin Waze in Disha’s death.
Refuting politics in the case, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil said that all evidence of ‘murder’ will come out after March 7.
The Salians spoke after Mayor Kishori Pednekar and two members of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women visited their Dadar home on Tuesday. The couple handed the commission members a complaint of harassment by the people who have raked up the death yet again. On Monday, the commission asked the Malwani police to file a report in the case.
Pednekar had lodged a complaint against Nitesh Rane’s Union minister father, Narayan Rane, with the commission. The senior Rane had alleged last week that Disha was raped before she was killed last year. He also alleged that actor Sushant Singh Rajput was murdered because he had identified Disha’s killers and vowed to nail them. He had mentioned Waze, hinting that the ex-cop could become an approver in the case.
‘You don’t understand our grief’
Disha’s parents urged politicians to leave them alone. “You don’t understand our grief. Nothing had happened to our only daughter. She was upset after losing some business deals and took the extreme step of suicide,” said Vasanti, adding, “Stop spreading lies and harassing us. Our lives have turned into hell. Spare us, please. Politicians will be responsible if we do something drastic to ourselves.”
Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson Rupali Chakankar said the commission has asked the Mumbai police to submit a report in two days including Disha’s postmortem report, a copy of the FIR, and other documents related to the case.
Pednekar said the accusers didn’t trust the investigating agency, the CBI, and Disha’s post-mortem report. “Instead of making statements in the news media and social media, they should submit evidence to the investigators. Let there be a probe. Let the truth come out,” she said.
‘Waze’s Merc?’
Nitesh Rane took to Twitter early Tuesday morning alleging a cover-up. “Disha was apparently taken 2 her Malad home in a black Merc on the 8th night from the party. Sachin Waze also owned a black Merc which is with the investigation agencies now. Is it the same car? He was reinstated in the police department on the 9th of June. Connection?”
He said the mayor’s complaint and the commission’s demand for a police report was a cover-up. “N because the Malvani police station didn’t do a free n fair investigation the case was given to the CBI.. right? N now the same police station is been asked to submit a report by the state women commission? How fair is that? Who r they trying to save?” he tweeted. Later in the day, he said he was fighting to get Disha justice and hoped that the mayor’s visit wasn’t aimed at pressuring her parents.
Deadline March
State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil promised a mega-exposé in the case next month. “There is no politics. The truth in the Disha Salian case will be out after March 7. All evidence will be given. It will be clear who will go to jail. Some people are buying courage and using bad language. It is like the fluttering of a lamp before it goes off.”
Disha, 28, died allegedly by suicide in Malad on June 8, 2020, six days before actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his Bandra apartment.
HC dismisses PIL on Disha Salian death; says petitioner didn’t go to cops for FIR
10:53 PM
Swati Deshpande (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 27, 2020)
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking orders to the police for an investigation report into the death of Disha Salian.
The petitioner, Puneet Dhanda, called Salian’s death unnatural.
The high court said that if anyone had information of a cognisable offence regarding the death, he or she may submit it to the police under the provisions contained in Section 38 and Section 39 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The bench heard the counsel for the petitioner, Vineet Dhanda, who said Salian died on June 8 and a few days later on June 14 actor Sushant Singh Rajput too died. He said both were unnatural deaths and cited media reports that raised questions over the cause of her death.
Public prosecutor Deepak Thakre objected to the petitioner’s locus standi.
The Supreme Court on October 26 had refused to entertain a plea for a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the death of Salian in a petition filed by Puneet Dhanda. It had given Dhanda liberty to approach the high court.
“There is no information given to the police for registration of an FIR in an unnatural death case,” the high court said, dismissing the petition.
The high court said that if any person had any information of a cognisable offence regarding the death of Salian, he or she may submit it to the police.
Dhanda said the police only registered an accidental death report. The bench asked him if he had complied with the provisions of the law and gone to the police to submit any information regarding the death after the police issued a press note seeking information from the public.
Dhanda said he had not, but said “the petition is with them”. The bench said that would not do.
The bench orally observed: “You do not comply with Section 39 CrPC, you go to the SC and come to the HC.”
Dhanda said that media reports could be used to seek a detailed investigation from the police.
At this the bench asked him for locus standi. The bench said: “If there is any foul play, family members can approach authorities.” Advocate Dhanda said: “Families can be threatened too.”
The bench in its order said after perusing the petition it showed that “he is himself not sure of his locus standi, given such circumstances we see no reason to entertain this PIL petition”.
Delhi lawyer Vibhor Anand, accused of floating rumours in Sushant Singh Rajput case, gets bail
11:12 PM
Mumbai Police arrest man from Nagpur who allegedly made derogatory remarks about Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray, and a Congress leader
David Delima and Vallabh Ozarkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 3, 2020)
A sessions court on Monday granted bail to Delhi-based lawyer Vibhor Anand, arrested last month by Mumbai Police for allegedly spreading conspiracy theories in connection with the deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and talent manager Disha Salian. Also on Monday, a Mumbai Police team arrested a man from Nagpur who allegedly made derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya.
Anand was arrested on October 15. Three days later a magistrate court remanded him in judicial custody. He had sought bail arguing that his custody was no longer required, but the court rejected his plea on October 23, after which he moved the sessions court. However, while granting him bail on Monday, the court stayed its order until November 6 for the prosecution to file an appeal.
Advocate Ashok Saraogi submitted that in order to keep himself up-to-date, Anand had been watching various TV channels, including one where the anchor had said that Rajput had been murdered only because Salian had been murdered, and that there was a party at her house a day before she died by suicide. The plea stated that Anand was “made to believe” that the statements on news channels were true.
The plea claimed that after Anand realised that his tweets could create controversy, he withdrew them, and that he had no intention to defame anyone or cause any offence.
The defence made further submissions claiming that though his client was a practising advocate, he had been mentally disturbed during the past few months, due to chronic alcohol abuse. He also submitted that Anand was being treated for another condition at a hospital.
Mirror had reported on October 17 that Anand was arrested after an FIR was registered in August after he uploaded social media posts in which he allegedly made defamatory statements against senior Maharashtra Cabinet ministers, linking them to the two cases.
A police team meanwhile arrested Sameet Thakkar, who allegedly made objectionable comments about the CM, his son, and a Congress minister, from Nagpur.
The team picked Thakkar up after he was released on bail in a case registered in Nagpur. He is being brought to the city.
In July, a case of obscenity and defamation was registered against Mumbai-based Thakkar. According to the FIR, Thakkar on July 1 sent tweets referring to Aaditya as ‘Mohammad Azam Shah of Maharashtra’ and ‘baby penguin’ and his father as a ‘modernday Aurangzeb’. In another tweet, he allegedly used abusive language against the Congress’ Nitin Raut.
Sushant Singh Rajput death: Mumbai police arrest Delhi advocate Vibhor Anand over conspiracy theories
8:27 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (October 17, 2020)
Mumbai: Mumbai cyber police have arrested a Delhi-based lawyer for posting videos in which he propounded the theory that celebrity manager Disha Salian (28) was murdered by a few celebrities and a politician from Maharashtra, report V Narayan and S Ahmed Ali. Salian was celebrity manager to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The arrest is the latest instance of a pushback against the rising tide of fake news and toxic messaging on social media platforms.
A police probe showed Salian died by suicide on June 9 in a Malad highrise where her fiancé resided. Suspect Vibhor Anand, 31, who continued to post defamatory content despite warnings from a city court, was picked up from his Delhi home and brought to Mumbai late Thursday night.
Held for defamatory posts, lawyer says he was expressing his views
The Esplanade Court, where Vibhor was produced on Friday, sent him to police custody till October 19 after he was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 504 (insult), 505 (2) (mischief), 509 (insult the modesty of a woman) and under the IT Act section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material).
Vibhor’s Twitter account @vibhor_anand was blocked and suspended in September, said DCP (crime) Akbar Pathan. He shifted to another handle. Hours before his arrest, Vibhor tweeted from @OfficeofVA, “Mumbai Police Cyber Crime team is in Delhi to meet me. Today is 15th October. So, Mumbai Police is finally here to Arrest me… See you soon @CPMumbaiPolice”.
His lawyer Hitesh Patel said, “The FIR is politically motivated, my client has just expressed his views.”
At least 14 others who posted similar content, including photos and videos through Twitter, have been shown as wanted in the case. The complaint which led to the arrest was filed by a 27-year-old Mumbai-based lawyer on August 12. She came across the content with links to videos that were tweeted, attacking wellknown figures, police and Maharashtra government.
Vibhor allegedly continued circulating such content despite Bombay Civil Court in September directing him and the others to immediately take down the defamatory posts. The order came on a suit by an actor-producer (whose name was dragged into the Salian case). Despite the order, Vibhor kept naming the actor.
Cyber police had similarly arrested on September 28 a physical trainer from Faridabad, Pradeep Choudhary alias Saahil (33), for posting conspiracy theories based on a probe he claims to have carried out on the deaths of late actor Sushant Singh and his ex-celebrity manager Salian. Choudhary was tracked down through the internet protocol address used to upload the offensive content on YouTube. The case was registered on August 22.
In recent months, cyber police has mounted a pushback against the torrent of hate speech, fake news and denigrating messages about public figures on social media. Traction for toxic messaging and conspiracy theories in the wake of Sushant Singh’s suicide has led to more monitoring of social media. Some YouTube channels on the incident have drawn millions of views.
As reported by TOI on September 28, cyber police in Maharashtra blocked at least 4,617 posts on platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook since fake news began flooding the net in the wake of the lockdown announced in Marchend. In all, 644 cases have been filed across 44 stations.
Cyber lawyer, Dr Prashant Mali said the IT Act 2000 should be amended with immediate effect and should include a section that will explicitly deal with fake news. “At present, there is no specific section that sternly deals with the rising cases of fake news combined with offensive videos and content uploaded to create communal tension or spread hate,” he said.
TIMES VIEW: Content on social media, in the absence of checks and balances, can be extremely toxic. The divisive effect of fake news purveyed on various platforms is being increasingly felt as internet and mobile footprints grow. Used to fan rumours and spread communal hatred, such activity has even led to lynchings and riots. There is a need to monitor social media and ensure awareness of laws concerning defamation and free speech.
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Vibhor Anand allegedly made defamatory statements against some Maharashtra Cabinet ministers
Vallabh Ozarkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 17, 2020)
Mumbai Police’s Cyber Cell has arrested a Delhi-based advocate for spreading conspiracy theories in connection with the deaths of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and talent manager Disha Salian.
An FIR was registered in August after Vibhor Anand posted social media content in which he allegedly made defamatory statements against senior Maharashtra Cabinet ministers, linking them to the two cases.
The Enforcement Directorate had on Wednesday searched the premises of a film producer in connection with its money-laundering investigation into the death by suicide of Rajput in Mumbai on June 14. “Vibhor Anand was picked up from his residence in Delhi on Thursday and was brought to the city. He was produced in court and has been sent to police custody till October 19,” said a police officer.
The complainant in the case said, “I came across 15 Twitter handles, including that of Anand, that were constantly abusing the CM and the Cabinet ministers. The accused made false allegations by posting offensive and abusive comments on social media. The allegations made by them are that Maharashtra Cabinet minister were involved in the deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian’s death.”
“The accused have been creating the story for the purpose of public disorder… and to promote the feeling of enmity and hatred against the current government. He even used abusive words against Mumbai police,” he added.
Plea for court monitored CBI probe in Disha Salian death should be filed in High Court, says Supreme Court
8:15 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (October 9, 2020)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the plea seeking court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager, Disha Salian should be filed in the Bombay High Court. However, the apex court said it was adjourning the matter for October 12, and in the meantime, the lawyer should approach the HC.
A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian conducted the hearing through video conferencing.
Besides the court-monitored CBI probe into Salian’s death, the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Puneet Kaur Dhanda has also sought filing of Mumbai Police’s detailed probe report before the Supreme Court.
The plea, which has to be argued by lawyer Vineet Dhanda, claimed that the deaths of Rajput and Salian were interconnected as they occurred under suspicious circumstances.
Disha (28) died on June 8 after falling off the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad (west), while Rajput (34) was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14.
The PIL said if the SC, after perusal of Mumbai Police’s probe report, finds it unsatisfactorily then the matter be referred to the CBI for further investigation.
What wrong did I do by helping a family that was grieving a severe loss?-Sandip Ssingh
8:45 AM
Producer Sandip Ssingh breaks his silence over allegations levelled against him and various controversies surrounding his role in Sushant Singh Rajput’s life. Last night, the filmmaker even posted his personal chats shared with the late actor and his sister on social media
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 7, 2020)
Taking off from our last conversation (published on June 29), you had said that Sushant and you go back a long way. You even went and visited his father in Patna. But his family has come forth and said that they don’t know you. Many don’t believe that Sushant and you were close friends. What is the truth?
Sushant and I met in 2011 and I had offered him the TV show Saraswatichandra. He’d said he did not want to do shows and wanted to get into movies. I liked his honesty and he liked the fact that I told him to focus on films. That is how we became friends. We travelled together, had meals together. But there was no occasion where he could introduce me to his family. So, how will they know me? Is it necessary that if we are friends with a star, their entire family has to know us? My friendship with him was deep and it dates back years. People have been questioning it and I was forced to put out my private chats with Sushant on social media (last night), to just tell people that we were friends. My silence has been misconstrued as my weakness. No one had personally called and told me that he’s no more. I also saw it on TV, after which Mahesh Shetty and I travelled there together in my car. I thought many people, including his friends from the industry, would come. It was just Mahesh and me. If I saw a sister, alone in this situation when the family was scattered all over, should I have thought of my career, my body language, how I look or how I gesture to someone with a thumbs-up? Should I have fled from the scene? What wrong did I do by helping a family that was grieving a severe loss? Main to uss maiyyat mein bhi kaandha deta hoon jisko main nahi jaanta, yeh to mera yaar tha… I don’t understand what the problem is if I arranged for his funeral and took on responsibilities while his family was away. Are we now implying that if we see someone in trouble, we should scoot, because trying to help someone can land us in trouble? Insaniyat ki nahin, kamzori aur buzdili ki haar honi chahiye.
In the last 20 days, you were captured on a news channel dodging the camera crew and fleeing the scene in a car. Your colleague, actor Shekhar Suman, even said that if you are honest, you must not hide.
When did I try to run away? I spoke to Bombay Times, right after his funeral. Even before the family could speak, I spoke to the press openly. Even before debates happened. Main kahan bhaaga bhai? If I had done something wrong, I would not have spoken out. I am a filmmaker, and I have a zillion other things to attend to, apart from giving media bytes. The times are such that people are unwell; friends have been facing troubles on the health front. I was asked for interviews, I gave them. But eventually, people started accusing me, questioning everything I had said. Usko todke marodke uske meanings nikaalne shuru ho gaye… News without proof is being shown on TV. It seems the ED had summoned me. Who has seen the summons? The police and the ED would have called me if they had found something to question me. I stood with the family for three days through thick and thin. There are visuals of that, and people are questioning me about it? Gunehgar maan liya mujhe? I was shocked that no one from the industry showed up at his house or at the hospital. Some people came to the funeral.
After your interview, Rhea Chakraborty, Samuel Haokip and several others have stepped forward to say that Sushant never mentioned you in the time that they were with him.
In one-and-a-half years, I was busy making films and so was he. He had his projects that kept him occupied, I had my own production ventures to look into. The biopic on Prime Minister Modi required a lot of effort and my 100 per cent focus. Friends go out off touch when they have work. Are you perpetually talking to the same set of friends who you were with in Class 10 or in college? Practically, it’s not possible. Just because we had not been in touch for a year or more, and he had not told me things, should I not have gone to his house when I learnt of his demise? Should I have forgotten our good old days and thought about log kya kahenge? Police poonchtaach karegi?
Why did you wait for so long to speak?
Main sehm gaya! My friends, mom and family reprimanded me for being there for Sushant’s family. They said, ‘You have made a mistake by going there. Tune toh aa bail mujhe maar wala kaam kar diya. Baaki industrywale, his friends are intelligent, but you are an emotional fool to go and help.’ I got scared, darr gaya main. I want to make films and I have a career ahead. So, I became quiet. But for the last 20 days, there are media people with cameras outside my building, as if I am some fugitive. I am trying to lead a normal life, I continued with my movements, but people have crossed their limits. They are showing footage of my car and saying main bhaag raha hoon!
There is speculation that you were planning to flee the country...
Am I a wanted criminal or fugitive that I will run away? I have given 20 years to this industry. I have studied in a Hindi-medium school, I have sold ice-cream before becoming a journalist, a company CEO and eventually, an independent producer. Mira Road mein raha, CEO ki naukri ki to learn filmmaking because I did not have resources to formally learn it. Uske baad, I worked on my own, started my company, and made four modest films on my own steam. Should I let it all go? Why should I?
The ambulance driver has been in the news for being in constant contact with you. Your CDR has been accessed and now he is being questioned by the CBI.
Meri toh izzat tak ko nahi baksha gaya! When people started writing nonsense about my mother is when I could not take it and decided to speak up. Social media has been so unkind. I am breaking my silence because of that. Did anyone ever think that mujhpe aur Mahesh Shetty pe kya guzri hogi? People, who didn’t know Sushant, are not his friends or associates, are screaming on national debates that I should be arrested. My question is, for what?
There is talk that after the ambulance driver, it’s your turn with the CBI.
Please tell me, when have I not made myself available to any officer from any department to answer their questions? I am ready to face anyone to get justice for Sushant. I was demanding a CBI probe in my interviews. A parallel media trial is working like it’s above the Supreme Court and the CBI. I am ready to face the CBI. I have already gone through a round of questioning. I cannot disclose the conversation, but they asked all the questions that people have been asking me anyway and I have not hidden a thing from them.
You are also being connected with Disha Salian’s death.
My last chat with her happened in 2017. She had come to my office — as a Cornerstone employee — to discuss a project for an actor she was representing. The meeting was coordinated by my office staff. Then, I heard that she died by suicide on June 9. That is all.
When was the last time you spoke with Sushant?
It was a normal chat, one and a half years ago, before I started making the PM Modi biopic. Yes, we used to chat on messages a lot before that. Even the film, Vande Bharatam, was being planned around that time.
With the drugs and the mental health angles being probed, did you know if Sushant consumed any substance or that he had a mental health issue?
We had a respectful friendship. He never did such things in front of me. If he did anything behind my back, I wouldn’t know. The Sushant I saw and knew was a sharp, intelligent actor, a great dancer, writer, reader and someone who enjoyed learning new things. If you read our chats, you would know that we met over meals, not drinks.
Surjeet Singh Rathore, who had apparently announced a film with Sushant, has alleged that you were a ‘mastermind’ in this case, and has spoken of a Dubai connection.
He needs to be clear about who he is first. He got publicity, he announced a film on Sushant and now, where has he gone? When we were to take Sushant’s body for cremation, the police saw him and asked me who he was. I said I didn’t know him. Sushant’s jijaji OP Singh’s team was already there to help with things. The next thing I know, he is on TV and making accusations. He made the most of the publicity he got. His comments are being taken seriously even without someone checking on his credentials. And Dubai connection! There was a picture of me with Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and another man, who they had identified as Dawood! It turned out to be a production designer, who has credible work to his name. He had to step forward and identify himself.
What has this entire phase meant for you?
There is pain and anger — thousands of people are calling me with suggestions, and thank God, I didn’t listen to them. I am suffering and I know what I am going through. My family is asking me to leave this industry and work somewhere else. My mother and sister have suffered in silence. People are hitting my car when I drive out of the compound. The society is asking me to vacate my flat. People have tried to barge into my house with cameras. For what? What have I done? A lot of people know what I have done, why can’t they speak up? Everyone is waiting for me to break my silence. I did that twice. This is the third time. Talking to the media, it feels like I am in the Supreme Court answering questions. I feel like I’m facing a trial. I have spoken the truth, and I am still answering allegations which are baseless, levelled by people who seek publicity. I will definitely take legal action against those people who have troubled me for no reason.
In hindsight, do you think remaining silent was the correct decision?
Today, I feel that maybe going and standing with the family in their time of need was wrong. Maybe, I should have been selfish and not gone there. Saara bakheda hi nahi hota! Taras khaao mujhe pe, main maafi maangta hoon if I have hurt sentiments.
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