CBI registers FIR in Disha Salian’s death case

The CBI has registered an FIR in connection with the death of Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, after the Bombay High Court transferred the case to the central agency, officials said on Monday.

The high court, while ordering the CBI probe on September 2, had directed that no individual be named as an accused unless the investigation produced sufficient material to raise reasonable suspicion against them.

CBI officials said the case was registered in accordance with the high court's directions and that the investigation, including recording of statements, had begun.

A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsle had ordered the probe while criticising the Mumbai Police for failing to register an FIR for six years. The court had observed that the police investigation "raises more questions than answers" and pointed to "glaring discrepancies".

The bench said an investigation could not be allowed to continue for an inordinately long period and held that a central agency probe was necessary for a proper and substantive investigation.

Salian, 28, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area.

Mumbai Police had initially registered an accidental death report and later concluded after an inquiry that she had died by suicide.

Her death came six days before Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. The two deaths subsequently became the subject of speculation about a possible connection.

The public uproar following Rajput's death led to a CBI investigation into his case. The agency subsequently submitted a closure report stating that Rajput had died by suicide, though the report is yet to be considered by the competent court.

As part of its directions, the high court asked Mumbai Police to hand over all documents relating to the case to the CBI and directed the agency to record the statement of Salian's father, Satish Salian.

The court, however, made it clear that no person should be treated as an accused unless the investigating officer finds sufficient grounds, based on the material collected, to raise reasonable suspicion against them.

Satish Salian had sought registration of an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. The bench refrained from making observations against any individual, saying it was for the investigating agency to examine the matter.

Thackeray has denied the allegations, describing the petition as false, frivolous and politically motivated.

The high court also said that if the CBI investigation finds that no offence is made out, the agency should submit an appropriate summary report before the court concerned. Satish Salian would then be at liberty to challenge the report, it said.