Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has denied ever meeting or knowing Disha Salian, after his name surfaced in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s FIR into her death.

Thackeray said attempts to connect him with the case were part of a prolonged campaign aimed at damaging his reputation, and maintained that there was no evidence supporting the allegations against him.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Thackeray said he wanted to focus on facts and reiterated that he had never met or known Salian.

He alleged that individuals with political and personal interests had continued to target him over the case for nearly six years. He also criticised what he described as media trials and television debates surrounding the matter.

Thackeray said the CBI investigation should proceed without what he called politically motivated distractions or attempts at character assassination.

Aaditya Thackeray among names mentioned in CBI FIR

The CBI recently registered an FIR following a Bombay High Court order for a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.

Salian, who had worked as a manager for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a building in Mumbai. Rajput died six days later, on June 14.

According to reports on the CBI FIR, the document mentions Aaditya Thackeray, his father and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, actors Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, among others.

The FIR also refers to police personnel, forensic officials, doctors and other individuals whose roles may be examined as part of the investigation.

The CBI is examining allegations relating to the circumstances of Salian’s death, including claims of criminal conspiracy and alleged efforts to create or promote a false account of the incident or suppress, destroy or manipulate evidence.

However, being mentioned in the FIR does not by itself establish that an individual is an accused or has committed an offence. Reports quoting a CBI official said no person had been formally established as an accused at this stage and that further action would depend on evidence emerging during the investigation.

Why did the CBI reopen the case?

The fresh CBI probe follows an order by the Bombay High Court directing the agency to investigate Salian’s death.

The court had raised questions about aspects of the earlier police investigation and observed that discrepancies required further examination. It directed the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death.

Her death had initially been recorded as an Accidental Death Report.

Salian’s father, Satish Salian, later approached the High Court seeking a fresh investigation. During the proceedings, concerns were also raised over the family’s reported inability to obtain documents including the post-mortem report and the accidental death report despite several years having passed.

Aaditya says political attacks will not deter him

Responding to the renewed focus on his name, Thackeray said attempts to use the case for political purposes would not stop him from pursuing what he described as the truth.

He said such efforts would not prevent him from continuing his political work or standing by his position.

Thackeray also reiterated that the allegations against him lacked evidence and accused unnamed interests of attempting to use the case for political and personal reasons.

Salian's father says he gave investigators names

Satish Salian has said that he provided investigators with details about the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death and identified people whom he wanted the agency to examine.

In comments to ANI, he said he had shared the names of Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea and others with investigators.

Salian said he expected the agency to examine the information provided by him and take appropriate action based on its findings.

His allegations form part of the material that the CBI will now assess during its investigation.

Sushant Singh Rajput's sister welcomes fresh probe

The reopening of the case has also drawn a response from Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister Shweta Singh Kirti.

In a video posted on social media, Shweta welcomed the CBI investigation and expressed hope that the fresh probe would establish what happened to Salian.

Salian’s death has remained the subject of public and political debate, particularly because it occurred less than a week before Rajput’s death.

The CBI will now examine the available evidence, revisit aspects of the earlier investigation and assess the allegations raised by Salian’s family as part of the fresh probe.