Actor Sooraj Pancholi has denied any connection with Disha Salian after the Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR and began a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding her death in 2020. The CBI investigation follows a September 2 order of the Bombay High Court directing the agency to take a fresh look at the case. The FIR does not name anyone as an accused, in keeping with the court’s direction that no person should be treated as an accused unless investigators find sufficient grounds to raise reasonable suspicion. In a detailed Instagram post, Pancholi said his name had repeatedly been linked to the case through media reports and public statements despite, according to him, there being no evidence connecting him to Salian.
‘I Have Never Met Disha Salian’
Pancholi categorically denied ever knowing or meeting Disha Salian. “I have never met Late Disha Salian in my life, directly or indirectly,” he wrote. He also said he had never met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, whose name has also figured in allegations made by Salian’s father and his lawyer. Pancholi said he had generally chosen not to respond to every report linking him to the case, but felt compelled to speak after the claims resurfaced. According to the actor, investigators had questioned him and recorded his statement around four to five years ago. He said he remained willing to cooperate with any further investigation. “I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE! If any investigating agency feels that they need to question me again or require any further information from me, I am completely willing to cooperate and make myself available for any investigation.”
Pancholi also said he supported a fair and thorough CBI investigation and appealed for facts to be verified before his name was linked to the case. He captioned his Instagram post: “Please read because I’m sure the media won’t cover this!”
Read his post here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/
What Is Actually on Record?
The distinction between the FIR, the allegations contained in the complaint and the status of the people whose names have surfaced is important.
The CBI FIR
The CBI registered the FIR after recording a fresh statement from Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, as part of the probe ordered by the Bombay High Court. The FIR invokes provisions relating to alleged gang rape, murder, disappearance of evidence and misconduct by public servants. However, it does not identify any individual as an accused at this stage. Satish Salian’s complaint and statement seek investigation into the roles of several people, including Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray, Disha’s then-fiancé Rohan Roy, actors Dino Morea and Rhea Chakraborty, former police officers and others. Those are allegations requiring investigation; their inclusion does not establish wrongdoing by any of those named.
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The Allegations
Satish Salian has alleged that his daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered and that the original investigation involved a cover-up. These claims form part of his petition and statement to investigators. They have not been established by a court, and the fresh CBI investigation is intended to examine the circumstances and evidence.
What Earlier Investigations Found
Disha Salian died after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Malad in June 2020. Mumbai Police initially registered an accidental death report and later concluded that she had died by suicide, finding no evidence of foul play. A Maharashtra government-appointed Special Investigation Team also found no foul play, according to reports. Her death occurred days before actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence, leading to years of speculation about a connection between the two cases. The CBI subsequently closed its investigation into Rajput’s death in 2025 after ruling out foul play.
Pancholi’s Position
Pancholi’s statement is his own account. He says he never met Salian or Aaditya Thackeray, has nothing to hide and is willing to cooperate with investigators. The CBI has not publicly attributed any criminal role to Pancholi. The fresh investigation is continuing, and the allegations made by Salian’s father — as well as the denials of those whose names have surfaced — remain to be examined against the evidence.
No court has adjudicated the allegations in the fresh case.
