Disha Salian Case: Sanjay Raut Backs Aaditya Thackeray, Calls CBI FIR An Attempt To Tarnish Thackeray Family

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday came out in strong support of party colleague Aaditya Thackeray amid the renewed investigation into the 2020 death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, saying the CBI FIR was being used to malign the image of the Thackeray family.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in the case following a direction from the Bombay High Court on a petition filed by Salian's father, Satish Salian. Importantly, the FIR does not name anyone as an accused at this stage, although several individuals have been mentioned whose roles are to be examined during the investigation.

Aaditya Thackeray has denied ever knowing or meeting Salian and has alleged that attempts to link him to the case are politically motivated and amount to character assassination. Raut backed that position, saying the party was prepared to defend the former Maharashtra minister.

“We are ready to fight. He (Aaditya) is not alone in this,” Raut said while responding to questions about the case.

Raut also targeted the Rane family, political rivals of the Thackerays, and said that anyone possessing evidence relating to Salian's death should submit it to the CBI rather than make allegations publicly.

Salian, who had worked as the manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020 after falling from a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area. Her death later became linked in public debate to the controversy surrounding Rajput's death.

The CBI's FIR followed the Bombay High Court's September 2 direction for a fresh investigation after questions were raised over the earlier handling of the case. The agency is examining allegations including criminal conspiracy, murder, gang rape and alleged suppression or destruction of evidence. However, the inclusion of names in the FIR does not by itself establish their involvement in any offence.

The political controversy has intensified after Aaditya Thackeray's denial and subsequent reactions from both sides. On Thursday, Raut said “people trust the Thackeray family” and maintained that the investigation should not be turned into a political campaign.

The latest developments have therefore placed the focus on what the CBI investigation establishes from evidence and witness statements, rather than on political allegations surrounding the case.