Disha Salian case: Aditya Thackeray breaks silence after six years

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party leader and MLA Aditya Thackeray has spoken out for the first time in six years on the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Following a Bombay High Court order, the CBI and other agencies have reopened the investigation, and after his name surfaced in a new FIR, Thackeray posted a lengthy statement on X laying out his position.

In his post, Thackeray said he was speaking the plain truth once again to put an end to the rumours. He stated clearly that he never met Disha Salian and had no acquaintance with her. He said that for the past six years, certain people have deliberately been trying to link his name to this tragic incident for political motives, personal enmity and to malign his character, without any evidence or connection.

Thackeray called it a baseless and continuing false campaign and termed it unfortunate. He said noisy, false debates and media trials on television channels cannot change the truth. He demanded that investigating agencies probe the matter afresh without any hindrance, political interference or character assassination, and with complete impartiality.

He further wrote that if anyone thinks this path of character assassination and false propaganda can silence him, they are mistaken. Thackeray said his fight for the truth, against injustice and alongside the people of the country would continue.

Disha Salian died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 12th floor of a building in Mumbai. Days later, on June 14, 2020, actor Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide. Claiming a link between the two incidents, the opposition has repeatedly made political allegations.

Several leaders, including senior BJP leader Narayan Rane, had linked Aditya Thackeray's name to the case with serious allegations from the start. Following the Bombay High Court's order, a new FIR has now been registered in the case, with reports suggesting it names, besides Aditya Thackeray, actress Rhea Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, actor Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, as well as some former police officers and others. The development has stirred political circles once again, with attention on the direction the investigation will now take.