The long-dormant case surrounding the 2020 death of Disha Salian, former manager to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has re-entered the headlines following a significant legal development. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh FIR, acting on directions from the Bombay High Court, reigniting public and media attention on a case that had previously been closed by both local police and a state Special Investigation Team.

Sooraj Pancholi Responds Publicly

Amid renewed scrutiny, actor Sooraj Pancholi, whose name has resurfaced in connection with the case, issued a detailed statement on his official Instagram account addressing the allegations directly. In his post, Pancholi firmly denied any connection to Salian's death, stating, "I want to state unequivocally that I have never met the late Disha Salian, directly or indirectly, in my life. I have also never met Aditya Thackeray! Dragging my name into this matter without any evidence or proof is completely wrong and deeply saddening."

Pancholi further clarified that he had already recorded his statement with investigating authorities four to five years ago and reiterated his willingness to fully cooperate with the ongoing CBI investigation. He also appealed to the public not to use someone's death to unfairly tarnish the reputations of others in the absence of established evidence.

What the FIR Actually Says

According to advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, the CBI registered the FIR based on a written complaint and recorded statement from the family. Multiple reports indicate that the FIR names several individuals whose roles require investigation, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, his father and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, actors Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea, and Sooraj Pancholi, along with Rohan Roy, former police officials, and several others named in connection with the alleged events surrounding Salian's death and its aftermath.

Importantly, it's worth emphasizing that the allegations contained in the complaint and FIR remain allegations and have not been established as facts by the investigation. The Bombay High Court had specifically directed that no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the CBI investigation. The PamphletThe Pamphlet

Why It Matters: A Politically Sensitive Reopening

This case carries significant political weight beyond its entertainment industry connections, given the document's allegation that "the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, father of Aaditya Thackeray, and others also played a significant role in the conspiracy and subsequent cover-up." Aaditya Thackeray, for his part, has denied having any connection with Salian's death and has previously said that there was no basis for the allegations against him. He has separately accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of running a smear campaign against him for the last six years, framing the renewed case within a broader political context. CBI FIR in Disha Salian death case names Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty: What the FIR says +2

Background: What Happened to Disha Salian

Disha Salian died on June 8-9, 2020, after falling from a high floor of a residential building in Malad, Mumbai, under circumstances that were initially ruled by local police as an accidental death/suicide, with no evidence of foul play. Her death drew renewed public attention due to its close timing with the death of Sushant Singh Rajput just days later, though the two cases were investigated separately. A state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed in December 2023, also previously concluded that it found no evidence of foul play.

However, following a fresh petition from Satish Salian alleging his daughter was assaulted and murdered, followed by a cover-up, the Bombay High Court intervened, directing the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a renewed investigation-leading to the current developments.

Reactions From Other Quarters

The CBI's decision to reopen the case has also drawn reactions from those connected to the broader Sushant Singh Rajput case. His sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, welcomed the investigation, expressing hope that it would bring clarity, stating that truth "cannot be defeated," even if delayed.

What Happens Next

With the CBI now formally investigating the matter, the coming weeks are likely to bring further developments, including potential questioning of those named in the FIR. Given the explicit court directive that no individual be treated as an accused without corroborating evidence, the investigation's findings-rather than the names currently listed-will determine any further legal implications for those involved, including Sooraj Pancholi, who has publicly maintained his non-involvement and willingness to cooperate throughout the process.