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, officials said on Monday. The development comes several years after Mumbai Police initially treated Salian’s death as an accidental death and later concluded that she had died by suicide.
The CBI had earlier approached the Mumbai Police seeking documents and records connected with the case to assist its investigation. The registration of the FIR now marks a fresh stage in the probe into the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.
Disha Salian Died Days Before Sushant Singh Rajput
Disha Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area.
Her death occurred only days before Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. The proximity of the two deaths led to considerable public speculation and scrutiny, although the circumstances of the two cases have been investigated separately.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on GoogleFollowing Salian’s death, Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) rather than an FIR.
CBI Sought Earlier Police Records
Before registering the FIR, the central agency had written to Mumbai Police seeking documents and records relating to Salian’s death.
The request was part of the process surrounding the CBI’s investigation after the Bombay High Court directed a probe into the case. The agency’s involvement follows a petition filed by Salian’s father, Satish Salian, who had raised concerns about the manner in which the investigation had been conducted.
The latest FIR means the circumstances surrounding the death will now be examined as part of a formal CBI investigation.
What Did the Bombay High Court Say?
The Bombay High Court’s September 2 order, as cited in reports on the case, directed a CBI probe following the petition filed by Satish Salian.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on GoogleThe court expressed concerns about the Mumbai Police investigation and questioned why an FIR had not been registered for several years. It observed that the investigation “raises more questions than answers” and referred to what it described as “glaring discrepancies.”
The court also noted issues concerning access to important documents. According to the order, copies of the post-mortem report and the Accidental Death Report had not been provided to Salian’s family even years after her death.
These observations concern the handling of the investigation and should not, by themselves, be interpreted as a judicial finding that Salian was murdered.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on GoogleMumbai Police Had Concluded It Was Suicide
Mumbai Police had previously maintained that Disha Salian died by suicide after conducting an inquiry into her death.
The police position is therefore distinct from allegations subsequently raised by her father before the High Court.
Satish Salian had alleged that his daughter was gang-raped and murdered, and sought a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Those allegations remain allegations and are now subject to investigation; they should not be presented as established facts unless proved through the ongoing legal process.
Why the New FIR Matters
The CBI registration of an FIR brings renewed attention to a case that has remained surrounded by questions and public speculation since 2020.
The agency will now have the opportunity to examine the available evidence, police records, forensic material and other relevant documents and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish what happened on the night of Salian’s death.
The investigation may also help address questions raised over the original police inquiry and the absence of an FIR for several years.
Disha Salian Case Remains Under Investigation
The CBI’s FIR represents the beginning of a formal investigation rather than a conclusion about the cause or manner of Disha Salian’s death.
Mumbai Police’s earlier conclusion of suicide, the allegations made by Salian’s father and the concerns recorded by the Bombay High Court are separate elements of the case. The CBI investigation will have to establish the facts based on evidence.
As the probe progresses, any conclusions regarding whether Salian died by suicide or was the victim of a crime will ultimately depend on the evidence gathered by the investigating agency and the subsequent legal proceedings.
