Aaditya Thackeray Reacts After Being Named in Disha Salian FIR, Calls It a ‘Character Assassination Attempt’

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has responded after his name appeared.

In the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) FIR related to the death of Disha Salian, saying he had “never met or known” her and alleging that the repeated association of his name with the case was an attempt at character assassination.

Thackeray, the Worli MLA and son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, addressed the issue in a post on X on Wednesday. He alleged that certain individuals were attempting to damage his reputation by linking him to the case without evidence.

“Let’s cut through the noise and talk facts, once again: I have never met or known Disha Salian. Linking my name to this tragic case constantly is a deliberate, evidence-free attempt at character assassination by a few individuals with clear political and personal motives, for almost 6 years,” he wrote.

Thackeray Questions Media Coverage

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged that the campaign against him was being driven by vested interests and political and personal considerations. He also criticised what he described as media trials and called for the official investigation to proceed without distractions.

“The relentless smear campaign run by vested interests without a single shred of evidence and truth is highly unfortunate. Loud TV debates and media trials do not change the facts. Let the official re-investigation proceed without malicious distractions and character assassination for political motives,” Thackeray said.

The CBI registered an FIR in the case after the Bombay High Court directed a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death. The FIR mentions several prominent names, including Thackeray, actors Dino Morea and Rhea Chakraborty, who are to be examined during the investigation.

The CBI has clarified that the individuals named in the FIR have not been designated as accused at this stage.

What Happened to Disha Salian?

Disha Salian, who had worked as a celebrity manager and was associated with actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a residential building in Mumbai.

Her death occurred just days before Rajput died on June 14, 2020. The proximity of the two deaths subsequently led to speculation about whether the cases were connected.

Salian’s father, Satish Salian, later approached the Bombay High Court, alleging shortcomings in the original investigation and seeking a fresh probe into his daughter’s death.

The court subsequently directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. The agency registered an FIR on September 13 based on the allegations and material placed before it.

The investigation is now underway, with the CBI examining the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death and the allegations raised in the case.