Mumbai: More than six years after the death of Disha Salian, a fresh investigation has now been ordered into the case, bringing back one of the most closely watched death cases linked to the events of June 2020.
The Bombay High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR and conduct a fresh investigation into Salian’s death. The court has also asked Mumbai Police to hand over the relevant case records to the CBI and directed that the investigation be handled by a senior officer.
Salian, 28, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. At the time, Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) instead of an FIR.
Her death became the subject of intense speculation, particularly because actor Sushant Singh Rajput died just six days later, on June 14, 2020. Salian had worked as Rajput’s former manager. Over the years, several theories have circulated online about whether the two deaths were connected. However, no court has established such a connection.
The latest development follows a petition filed by Salian’s father, Satish Salian, who had raised questions about the original investigation and sought a fresh probe. He alleged that important aspects of the case had not been properly investigated and raised suspicions about the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death.
The High Court had earlier questioned aspects of the Mumbai Police investigation, including why an FIR had not been registered despite the allegations and questions raised by the family.
The court has now handed the matter to the CBI for a fresh look. The agency has been directed to record Satish Salian’s statement and examine the available evidence and records.
However, there is an important point to keep in mind the court has not said that Disha Salian was murdered, nor has it named anyone as an accused. The allegations remain allegations unless supported by evidence.
The CBI will now have to determine what exactly happened on the night of June 8, 2020, and whether there is evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. If investigators find sufficient evidence, they can proceed under the law. If they find no criminal offence, they can submit an appropriate report.
For a case surrounded by years of speculation, the fresh CBI investigation could finally provide answers or put some of the long running theories to rest.
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