A fresh controversy has emerged in the Disha Salian death case after her father, Satish Salian, sent a legal notice to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray over statements shared from Thackeray’s official X account.
The notice, issued on September 19, objects to posts published in both English and Marathi on September 16. According to the notice, Satish Salian has described the statements as false, malicious and defamatory and has demanded their withdrawal, an apology and ₹500 crore in compensation.
What is the dispute?
The dispute follows Aaditya Thackeray’s social media response to the renewed investigation into Disha Salian’s 2020 death.
On September 16, Thackeray said he had never met or known Disha Salian. He also alleged that attempts to repeatedly connect him with the case were part of a politically and personally motivated campaign against him.
Thackeray further said that media debates and what he described as “media trials” would not change the facts and called for the official investigation to continue without political interference.
Satish Salian has objected to portions of these statements, particularly references to his alleged political motives and personal interests in pursuing the case.
₹500 crore compensation demanded
According to reports, the legal notice asks Aaditya Thackeray to withdraw the disputed statements, issue an apology and pay ₹500 crore as compensation and damages.
The notice has given Thackeray seven days to comply with the demands. The development has added another legal and political dimension to a case that has remained controversial since Disha Salian’s death in 2020.
What Aaditya Thackeray has said
Thackeray has denied ever knowing or meeting Disha Salian.
In his September 16 post, he said attempts to connect his name to the case had continued for years without evidence. He described the allegations as an attempt at character assassination and said the CBI investigation should proceed independently.
The legal notice from Satish Salian is now challenging statements made in that political and legal backdrop.
CBI investigation into Disha Salian’s death
The latest dispute comes after the CBI registered an FIR following directions from the Bombay High Court for a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.
The FIR includes the names of several people whose roles the agency is to examine, including Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty, according to reports.
Importantly, being named in an FIR for investigation does not by itself establish that a person committed a crime or that they are guilty of any wrongdoing. Reports have also noted that the FIR did not name an accused at this stage.
Why the case remains controversial
Disha Salian, who had worked as a manager for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in Mumbai in June 2020. Her death occurred days before Rajput’s death, leading to years of public speculation about a possible connection between the two cases.
The earlier investigation had not established criminal wrongdoing, while the current CBI probe follows a Bombay High Court direction for a fresh examination of the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.
The ₹500 crore legal notice has now brought the dispute back into the political spotlight, with Satish Salian challenging Thackeray’s statements while Thackeray continues to deny any connection with Disha Salian.
