04 September,2026 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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BJP leader Ram Kadam on Friday questioned the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government over its handling of the Disha Salian death case, asking why her family's demand for a CBI investigation was not accepted at the time.
Kadam's remarks came after the Bombay High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR and conduct a detailed probe into the circumstances surrounding Salian's death.
Speaking to ANI, Kadam said the focus should be on the concerns raised by Salian's family and asserted that justice should be ensured irrespective of a person's social or political standing.
He questioned why the case was not transferred to the CBI during the tenure of the Uddhav Thackeray government if Aaditya Thackeray had no connection to the matter.
Kadam alleged that Salian's family had sought a CBI probe earlier but their demand was not acted upon. He also raised allegations of attempts to suppress the matter and tamper with evidence, though these claims remain allegations.
The BJP leader said the passage of six years since Salian's death made it important to establish the circumstances surrounding the case through a thorough investigation.
Kadam's comments followed Aaditya Thackeray's dismissal of allegations linking him to the case. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said he had nothing to do with the matter and questioned why he should respond to allegations that he said were part of a campaign to defame him.
Thackeray accused the BJP of attempting to tarnish his image for several years and said he had not even considered the issue.
The Bombay High Court has directed the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian's death. The Malvani Police Station has also been ordered to hand over relevant records to the central agency.
The court, however, clarified that a person should not be treated as an accused unless the investigating officer finds sufficient grounds, based on the evidence collected, to raise reasonable suspicion against them.
Salian, a celebrity manager, was found dead on June 8, 2020, after falling from a building in Mumbai. Her death occurred shortly before actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence.
The latest court direction is expected to bring renewed focus on the circumstances surrounding Salian's death and the investigation into the case.
(With inputs from ANI)
