18 September,2026 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
File pic of Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian. Pic/X/@ssrshiv0808
Six years after Disha Salian's death, her father Satish Salian is set to personally serve a fresh defamation notice on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray at his Matoshree residence on Saturday, September 19. Salian has informed Mumbai Police and the media (copy of press release is with mid-day) that he and his lawyers will reach residence at 4 pm and have sought adequate security, citing apprehension of obstruction or intimidation while serving the notice.
The move comes days after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into Disha's death and directed the agency to register an FIR. The CBI subsequently registered the case after recording a fresh statement from her father. The High Court had also made it clear that no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the investigation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hit back at the allegations against his family, saying he would take legal action if what he described as the character assassination continued. Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday, Thackeray said, "This case has absolutely no connection to us, even remotely. Aaditya has already clarified that we do not even know who they are, nothing at all."
He then appeared to mock the way names were being dragged into the case, sarcastically asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had not been named. "I am wondering why the names of Trump and Modi are absent in this case?" Thackeray said Disha's death was an unfortunate incident and maintained that his family had no connection with it.
Salian's legal team said the fresh notice will specifically address Thackeray's social-media posts. It is being pursued separately from the criminal investigation. Reports on Thursday said Salian had also sought R500 crore in damages from Thackeray and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh over statements concerning his pursuit of a fresh investigation.The reported notice seeks damages and an apology.
In his September 16 posts, Thackeray said: "I have never met Disha Salian, nor did I have any acquaintance with her." He described the attempts to link his name to the case as an "evidence-free" campaign aimed at character assassination and alleged that political and personal motives were behind them. He also said the fresh investigation should proceed without political interference or what he described as a media trial.
The CBI registered an FIR after the Bombay High Court's September 2 order directing an investigation into Disha's death. The FIR and statements made during the proceedings refer to several people whose roles are to be examined, including:
>> Aaditya Thackeray
>> Uddhav Thackeray
>> Anil Deshmukh
>> Rohan Roy
>> Dino Morea
>> Sooraj Pancholi
>> Rhea Chakraborty
>> Showik Chakraborty
>> Sachin Vaze
>> Param Bir Singh
>> DCP Vishal Thakur
>> Other police personnel and officials
Reports on the FIR also refer to security personnel, doctors and forensic personnel whose roles are to be examined.
The Bombay High Court specifically directed that no person should be treated as an accused unless suitable material is found against them during the investigation.
Satish Salian's earlier petition and statements have alleged a wider conspiracy involving gang rape, murder and suppression or destruction of evidence. The Mumbai Police had earlier treated Disha's death as an accidental death and subsequently concluded it was a suicide. The High Court's September 2 order directed a fresh CBI investigation.
September 16
Aaditya Thackeray posted two statements denying that he had ever met or known Disha. He described attempts to link him to the case as a campaign driven by political and personal motives.
September 19, 4 pm
Satish Salian and his lawyers plan to go to Matoshree to serve the fresh notice.
Police request
Salian has asked Mumbai Police to provide adequate security during the visit.
Inputs by Ranjeet Jadhav
