A major legal development has brought the death of Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, back into the spotlight. Satish Salian, Disha’s father, has issued a legal notice seeking Rs 500 crore in damages from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. The notice concerns statements that, according to Satish Salian, portrayed his pursuit of justice for his daughter as politically motivated.
Disha Salian, 28, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a high-rise residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. At the time, the incident was recorded by police as an accidental death. Her death received renewed public attention because Sushant Singh Rajput died six days later. Rajput had previously worked with Salian professionally, and the two cases became the subject of extensive public discussion.
According to the latest reports, Satish Salian had approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh investigation into his daughter’s death. His legal efforts included allegations that several individuals’ roles should be examined. The matter has now entered a new phase after the Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR and began investigating the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.
The Rs 500 crore notice alleges that statements made by Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Deshmukh questioned the motives behind Satish Salian’s legal efforts. The notice reportedly objects to descriptions of his campaign for investigation as politically motivated, malicious or intended to target Thackeray.
The notice also reportedly disputes the claim that the CBI had already investigated the matter and cleared Aaditya Thackeray. According to the legal notice, such statements were allegedly damaging to Satish Salian’s reputation and portrayed him as someone improperly using the legal system.
The notice seeks more than financial compensation. It reportedly demands an unconditional and public apology from both politicians. The apology, according to reports, is sought across print, television and digital platforms, with specific requirements concerning its publication and duration.
Aaditya Thackeray has rejected the allegations connecting him to Disha Salian. In a statement posted on X on September 16, he said that he had never met or known Salian. He described attempts to repeatedly connect his name to the case as an evidence-free campaign and called for the official investigation to proceed without political interference or character assassination.
The legal notice comes at a significant moment because the CBI has now formally entered the case. The agency registered an FIR on September 14, according to reports, following the Bombay High Court’s direction for a thorough investigation. The FIR reportedly includes several names whose roles require investigation, including Aaditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi and others. Being named for investigation does not by itself establish criminal responsibility.
The case therefore involves several separate legal developments: the original death investigation, the family’s demand for a fresh probe, the recent CBI FIR and the new defamation notice. The allegations made by the parties remain subject to legal and investigative processes.
For now, the Rs 500 crore demand represents a claim made through a legal notice rather than a court judgment awarding damages. The CBI investigation is also ongoing, meaning that questions surrounding the circumstances of Disha Salian’s death remain under official examination.