30 September,2026 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
File pic of Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian. Pic/X/@ssrshiv0808
A CCTV hard disk that was earlier reported as missing during the investigation into Disha Salian's death has been recovered, it is learnt, and sent for forensic examination, potentially giving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) another piece of electronic evidence to examine in the six-year-old case.
The development comes as the CBI examines the earlier investigation and allegations concerning the handling and availability of CCTV footage.
The hard disk was reportedly flagged as missing during the earlier investigation. The issue has since featured in allegations concerning the handling of CCTV evidence.
Advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Disha's father Satish Salian, said the recovery would need to be followed by a detailed forensic examination.
"If the hard disk which was earlier declared missing has now been recovered, the first question is where it was all these years and under whose custody it remained. The forensic examination should establish whether the original data is intact, whether anything was deleted and what happened to the CCTV footage during the relevant period," Ojha said.
Ojha had previously alleged that CCTV footage from the relevant period was unavailable and questioned how the electronic evidence was handled. A recent representation submitted by Satish Salian's legal team to the CBI has also raised questions about the custody of the CCTV recording equipment and the alleged disappearance of backup data. These are allegations that the CBI will have to examine. The earlier Mumbai Police investigation had examined CCTV footage as part of its probe. A 2022 account of the investigation said police had examined four days of CCTV footage from the building and used it as part of their inquiry.
The Bombay High Court had on September 2 directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian's death and register an FIR. The agency registered the FIR on September 13. The court had also made clear that nobody should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerged during the investigation.
The CBI is now examining the earlier police investigation, statements, forensic material and electronic evidence.
The reported recovery comes days after Satish Salian and Ojha submitted a pen drive to the CBI containing videos, photographs and other material. According to reports, the material included purported witness testimony. The CBI will have to assess the authenticity and evidentiary value of that material as part of its investigation.
Arjun Rajane, senior police inspector at Ulwe police station and associated with the earlier investigation, declined to comment.
"I will not be commenting on the case as now the investigation is with CBI," Rajane said.
