Nothing to do with it: Aaditya Thackeray on CBI probe into Disha Salian death

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has rejected allegations linking him to the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, saying he has "nothing to do with it", after the Bombay High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into her death.

Thackeray also accused the BJP of running a long-term campaign to defame him, as the court-ordered fresh investigation revived a politically sensitive case that has been the subject of allegations and counter-allegations for years.

"Nothing to do with it," Thackeray said when asked about the controversy.

He said he did not want to give importance to what he described as unfounded allegations and accused the BJP of targeting political opponents who challenge it.

‘BJP HAS RUN DEFAMATION CAMPAIGN’

Thackeray said the allegations against him were part of a wider political campaign and compared the treatment he has faced with the attacks directed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by his political opponents.

He alleged that the ruling party targets those who challenge it and said he would not allow such accusations to distract him from his work.

WHAT DID THE BOMBAY HC ORDER?

The remarks came after the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to register a formal First Information Report and take over the investigation into Disha Salian’s death.

Salian, who briefly worked as the manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020 after falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Police had previously classified her death as an accidental fall and later as suicide.

Salian’s father subsequently approached the court, alleging a cover-up and foul play and seeking a fresh investigation.

The High Court, while intervening in the matter, found procedural aspects of the earlier probe that required further scrutiny and ordered the CBI to conduct a fresh investigation.

The court has also made clear that no specific person has been named as an accused at this stage. Any such action would depend on concrete evidence emerging during the investigation.

FADNAVIS EXPLAINS WHY PROBE IS BEING REVISITED

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also responded to the High Court’s decision, explaining that the Mumbai Police had already submitted its final investigation report in the case.

According to Fadnavis, the High Court felt that certain technical aspects or details required further examination.

He said the government would respect the court’s decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI, which would now carry out a fresh evaluation of the case.

Fadnavis refrained from making deeper personal comments on the allegations or the ongoing investigation.

SALIAN CASE RETURNS TO FOCUS

The High Court’s order has brought the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death back into focus, while the political controversy surrounding the case has once again intensified.

For Thackeray, however, the allegations remain politically motivated. He has denied any involvement in the case and said he would not give importance to accusations he considers baseless.

The CBI probe will now examine the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death, with any further action depending on what emerges from the investigation.