Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of pursuing a “politically motivated” case after his son, Aaditya Thackeray, was named in an FIR concerning the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager, Disha Salian.
Speaking to reporters in Sambhajinagar, the former Maharashtra chief minister said neither he nor his son had any connection with Salian or her death. “The incident was tragic, but why are we being dragged into this? We have nothing to do with it. It is completely politically motivated. Even your names could be dragged into this tomorrow,” Thackeray said.
Taking a swipe at the probe, he questioned why the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump could not also be included. “Why don't you drag PM Modi and Trump's names into this as well?” he asked.
Uddhav Thackeray also accused the investigating agency of attempting to damage the family's reputation and warned that legal action could follow. “Conduct your probe but do not indulge in character assassination. We will be forced to take legal action if character assassination. We never met, and we have absolutely no connection to this,” he said.
Aaditya Thackeray had also rejected any connection to the case in a social media post on Wednesday. He said he had never met Salian and described attempts to link him to her death as a “deliberate, evidence-free attempt at character assassination” driven by what he called political and personal motives.
The developments come amid a legal challenge from Salian's father, Satish Salian, who has issued a notice seeking ₹500 crore in damages from Aaditya Thackeray and NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. Salian's father has accused the two of portraying the case as “politically motivated”.
Disha Salian was found dead on 8 June 2020 after falling from the 14th floor of a building in Mumbai. An accidental death report was subsequently registered. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence six days later.
Following a High Court order, the CBI recently took over the investigation into Salian's death and registered an FIR based on a statement submitted by her father. The FIR invokes charges including murder, gang rape, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and providing false information.
Aaditya Thackeray, actors Dino Morea and Rhea Chakraborty and several others have been named in the FIR. The FIR also alleges that Uddhav Thackeray and others were involved in an alleged cover-up, including through the misuse of public funds, manpower and police resources to shield those allegedly responsible. Those named in the case, including the Thackerays, have denied any involvement in Salian's death.
