Bombay HC Reserves Order on Plea for CBI Probe into Disha Salian Death

The Bombay High Court on Friday concluded hearings and reserved its order on a petition filed by Satish Salian, father of the late celebrity manager Disha Salian, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into her death at a residential building in Malad.

Satish Salian filed the petition seeking a fair and thorough investigation, alleging that his daughter was assaulted and murdered on June 8, 2020, and did not die by suicide. The petition also claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray was an alleged suspect in the case.

A bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale concluded a three-day hearing on the matter. During the proceedings, the bench repeatedly questioned the state government regarding why it was still conducting an inquiry under Section 174 of the erstwhile Criminal Procedure Code, which has limited applicability to ascertain the cause of death as the initial line of investigation upon registering an accidental death report.

The initial inquiry had been closed within three months of the incident but was reopened in 2023 following allegations. The high court questioned the validity of such an extended inquiry.

Chief Public Prosecutor Shishir Hirey, representing the state, maintained that Disha Salian jumped to her death from the 12th floor of the residential building in Malad.

Advocate Nilesh Ojha, appearing for Satish Salian, cited various documents alleging discrepancies and suspicious circumstances surrounding the death to argue for a CBI investigation.

After examining the panchnama, photographs, and other case details, the high court raised questions regarding multiple aspects of the case, including whether the recorded injuries were consistent with a fall from that height, as well as issues concerning her clothes.