Sanjay Raut defends Aditya Thackeray after CBI files FIR in Disha Salian case

The CBI has registered an FIR in the death case of Disha Salian, triggering a stir in Maharashtra politics. Disha's father Satish Salian has claimed that the FIR names Aditya Thackeray, actor Suraj Pancholi and Rhea Chakraborty. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has given his first reaction to this.

Raut said the matter is extremely sensitive and that Aditya Thackeray has absolutely no connection to Disha Salian's death case. He said the Mumbai police had already investigated the case earlier, so there was no reason to question that investigation.

Raut said he had deliberately not spoken on the matter earlier, since it involves the death of a young woman and the grief that has struck her family, a very delicate issue. He said the Mumbai police had investigated the case repeatedly, and their integrity could not be doubted. According to Raut, the police had tried to conduct a fair investigation into the case even under a government led by his political opponents.

Referring to the current political situation, Raut said Shiv Sena is no longer in power in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis is the chief minister and also holds the home ministry. Raut claimed that the investigation into this case was completed and a closure report submitted during Fadnavis's tenure itself, and that very investigation had found no link between Aditya Thackeray and the case. He said there was no evidence against Aditya Thackeray. However, he also said that the final word on the claims linked to the CBI's current FIR and the direction the investigation takes would only become clear once the probe is complete, and that a name appearing in an FIR does not mean that person is guilty.

Raut was also sharply critical of the political use of the issue. He said the matter was being repeatedly raked up for political ends, affecting the dignity of Disha Salian and her family. Calling it a political arena, he said this was not in keeping with Maharashtra's culture, and that an attempt was being made to tarnish the place the Thackeray family holds in the hearts of Maharashtra and the Marathi people. Citing the position that no one should be treated as an accused before an investigation is complete, Raut also questioned the media discussion around the case and said he would continue to fight this campaign of defamation.

Raut also raised questions over the leak of some pages of the CBI FIR. He asked how just one page out of a 16-page FIR had come out. Raut alleged that a meeting was held at the Sahyadri guest house on Sunday, after which two leaders travelled to the Asiatic Library in the same car, and that the pages of the FIR were drafted, and later leaked, in line with what was decided during that meeting and journey. These claims have not been independently verified and should be seen as Raut's allegations.

Separately, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam launched a sharp attack on former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and former minister Aditya Thackeray, saying "satyamev jayate" and demanding a thorough investigation into the case. Kadam asked whether Aditya Thackeray is an accused, whether Disha Salian was raped, and said the truth on all these questions should come out through the investigation. He said that since a case has now been registered following a court order, the truth is expected to emerge from the probe.

Referring to Disha Salian's father naming Aditya Thackeray, Kadam said these claims too should be investigated, though he added that a name appearing in a complaint or FIR does not mean guilt has been proven. Kadam also asked whether an attempt was made to destroy evidence in the case while Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister, and said this too should be investigated. He also questioned Aditya Thackeray's alleged nightly movements, asking where he used to go at midnight and where he returned from at 6 am. Kadam said sarcastically, "Balasaheb earned it, and these people squandered it."

Separately, on the Maratha reservation issue, Kadam also commented on Manoj Jarange Patil. He said the Maratha community's demand for reservation is legitimate, but urged Jarange to show some patience given the festival season. Kadam also made clear that the government's position is that reservation for the Maratha community should not come at the cost of injustice to the OBC community.