15 September,2026 07:46 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The case was registered following a September 2 order of the Bombay High Court on a petition filed by Disha Salian`s father, Satish Salian. File Pic
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in connection with the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, without naming any accused, in compliance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court, officials said on Monday.
The FIR was registered on September 13 and invokes provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, gang rape, murder, disappearance of evidence and public servants allegedly disobeying the law or framing incorrect records to protect offenders. CBI officials said the agency has begun recording statements and carrying out the formal investigation.
The case was registered following a September 2 order of the Bombay High Court on a petition filed by Salian's father, Satish Salian. His statement was recorded by the CBI on September 11.
According to the FIR, his statement disclosed offences punishable under IPC Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), read with Sections 376(D) (gang rape), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 217 and 218 (public servant disobeying law or framing an incorrect record).
The FIR states that Disha Salian, 28, was working as a celebrity manager at the time of her death. The alleged incident took place on the intervening night of June 8 and 9, 2020, at a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area.
According to her father's statement to the CBI, Salian had left her parents' residence on June 4, 2020, for an advertisement shoot. He remained in regular contact with her until June 6. From June 7, however, his calls allegedly went unanswered, and her mobile phone was subsequently answered by her fiancee.
Malwani Police informed Salian's father on June 9 that an incident had occurred following a party and later told him that his daughter had died by suicide.
Her father told the CBI that he began questioning the suicide theory after seeing photographs of his daughter's body on June 11. He alleged that he did not see visible blood or multiple injuries in the photographs. He further claimed that he was persuaded to accept that she had accidentally fallen while intoxicated and alleged that police obtained his signatures on documents without explaining their contents to him.
The Bombay High Court's division bench of Justices Sarang V Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale had observed that the investigation could not continue indefinitely. The court referred to "glaring discrepancies" in the initial investigation and criticised the local police for having treated the matter as an accidental death for years.
Salian died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 12th floor of the Malad building. Six days later, on June 14, 2020, Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Bandra. His death triggered widespread public attention and eventually led to a CBI investigation.
The agency subsequently submitted a closure report in Rajput's case, concluding that his death was a suicide. The report remains pending before the competent court.
While directing Mumbai Police to transfer all documents relating to the Salian case to the CBI, the Bombay High Court specifically instructed the central agency not to name anyone as an accused at this stage.
"Nobody shall be treated as an accused unless, in the opinion of the investigating officer, there are sufficient grounds to raise reasonable suspicion against him depending on the material collected during the investigation," the bench had stated.
Satish Salian had sought registration of an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. The court, however, did not make any observations against any individual, stating that the investigation was within the CBI's purview. Thackeray has denied all allegations and described the petition as false and politically motivated.
The high court also said that if the CBI concludes after investigation that no case has been made out, it may file an appropriate summary report. The petitioner would remain free to challenge such a report.
In his statement to the CBI, Satish Salian, who has been running a small business selling homemade chutneys and spices since 1990, alleged that his daughter had come across a drug and child trafficking racket while working. However, the statement did not make clear how he had obtained information that led him to make these allegations.
The father also named senior politicians, Bollywood actors and several police personnel whom he believed should be investigated in connection with his daughter's death.
He cited several reports published by print and electronic media in his statement. He also told the CBI that neither he nor other members of the family had ever been provided with a copy of Disha Salian's postmortem report.
(With inputs from PTI)
