The Bombay High Court has directed the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the 2020 death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian. The court emphasized investigating all circumstances surrounding her passing.

  • Bombay High Court has directed the CBI to probe the 2020 death of Disha Salian.
  • The CBI must register an FIR and record the statement of Satish Salian, the deceased's father.
  • The investigation will proceed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
  • The court ruled that no individual shall be treated as an accused without sufficient grounds.

In a significant judicial development on Wednesday, September 2, the Bombay High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appoint an officer to investigate the 2020 death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The court has further ordered the registration of an FIR and the recording of the statement of the deceased's father, Satish Salian.

A bench comprising Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Ranjitsinha R. Bhonsale instructed the Investigating Officer (IO) to meticulously examine all circumstances surrounding the loss of life. The court maintained a balanced approach, stating, “Nobody shall be treated as an accused, unless in the opinion of the IO there are sufficient grounds to raise reasonable suspicion against him depending on the material collected under the investigation.”

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this intervention by the High Court highlights the judicial commitment to addressing long-standing allegations of investigative lapses. By shifting the probe to a central agency under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the court aims to eliminate any perception of local bias or procedural cover-ups, ensuring that the pursuit of truth remains paramount in high-profile cases.

The court's mandate ensures that the investigation is driven by forensic evidence and material facts rather than public sentiment or political narratives.

The case dates back to June 8, 2020, when 28-year-old Disha Salian died after falling from a building in Malad, Mumbai. This tragic event occurred just six days before the passing of Sushant Singh Rajput. While the Mumbai Police and a subsequent Special Investigation Team (SIT) concluded the death was a suicide, the family has consistently contested these findings.

Satish Salian filed a writ petition alleging that there had been a cover-up in the original investigation. He expressed concerns that political figures had been maligning his daughter's reputation, prompting the need for a fresh, independent probe by a premier central agency to clear her name and find the truth.

The High Court has instructed the Malwani Police Station to hand over all relevant documents to the CBI. If the investigation finds no offence, a summary report will be filed, though the petitioner retains the right to challenge such a report through a protest petition.

Did You Know?: The new investigation will be conducted under the BNSS, 2023, which recently replaced the older Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the previous conclusion regarding Disha Salian's death?
The Mumbai Police and a 2023 SIT investigation both concluded that her death was an unnatural death caused by suicide.

2. Can the CBI name suspects immediately?
No, the High Court explicitly stated that no one should be treated as an accused unless the Investigating Officer finds sufficient material evidence to support suspicion.