Fresh Allegations Revive a Controversial Case
Mumbai: Five years after the tragic death of Disha Salian, her father, Satish Salian, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and others. His plea alleges that Disha was gang-raped and murdered during a party on June 8, 2020, attended by high-profile individuals, including Thackeray and Bollywood actors. It further claims that political pressure led to tampering with forensic evidence, altering the autopsy report, and delaying the post-mortem by over 50 hours to erase traces of sexual assault. In response, Aaditya Thackeray dismissed the allegations, calling it a politically motivated attempt by the BJP to malign his image.
The petition has reignited the debate over the circumstances of Disha’s death and its alleged connection to Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise a week later. Satish Salian has requested the court to club his plea with an earlier petition filed by activist Rashid Khan Pathan, demanding a CBI probe. He also accused the police of a cover-up, alleging that key evidence, including CCTV footage, was manipulated, and a rushed cremation was conducted without a thorough forensic examination. Despite the Maharashtra government forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2023 to look into the case, the team has yet to submit its report.
Political Blame Game Intensifies
The case has sparked fresh political friction between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat has stated that those responsible will be punished, while BJP leader Nitesh Rane has long insisted on a deeper probe. In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has questioned the timing of the petition, pointing out that the police had already ruled Disha’s death an accident in their 2021 investigation. He accused the BJP of reviving the case to divert attention from other political controversies.
Mumbai Police and SIT’s Findings So Far
Despite multiple inquiries, including the Mumbai Police’s initial probe and the SIT’s investigation, no evidence of foul play has been officially established. While the CBI took over Sushant Singh Rajput’s case, it did not find any links between his death and Disha’s. The SIT, which summoned several individuals connected to the case, including Disha’s family, reported that no one came forward to record statements, causing the probe to stall. As the case now moves to the courts, the question remains whether it will lead to a fresh investigation or continue to be entangled in political crossfire.
Call for a CBI Investigation
- Satish Salian has requested that his petition be linked to an earlier plea filed by Rashid Khan Pathan of the Supreme Court and High Court Litigants Association.
- He demands a fresh CBI probe into the case, alleging that the existing Special Investigation Team (SIT) has failed to deliver justice.
- The Maharashtra government had set up an SIT in 2023, but it has yet to submit its findings.
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