The Central Bureau of Investigation’s FIR in the 2020 death of Disha Salian has listed several politicians, public figures, police officers and other individuals whose roles require investigation, while making clear that none has been named as an accused at this stage.
According to the FIR reported by The Times of India, the investigation will examine alleged criminal conspiracy, the alleged creation and propagation of a false suicide narrative, and the possible suppression, destruction or fabrication of evidence. A CBI official said names would be added as accused only if their involvement is established during the probe.
The individuals listed for examination include Aaditya Thackeray, Rohan Roy, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray’s bodyguards, Rhea Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Sachin Vaze, Param Bir Singh, DCP Vishal Thakur, Uddhav Thackeray, Anil Deshmukh and several police officers associated with the Malvani Police Station investigation. The inclusion of a person in the FIR as someone whose role requires investigation does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
The FIR also directs attention to the functioning of public institutions involved in the case. It alleges that some public servants and police officers may need to be investigated over the destruction or suppression of case papers, files and other public records, the fabrication of official records, and the alleged misuse of public funds, manpower and police machinery to shield offenders. These remain allegations to be examined by the CBI.
The agency is expected to question officials involved in the autopsy and forensic processes, as well as people connected with the building where Salian was found dead, including security guards. The investigation will therefore cover not only the circumstances surrounding the death but also how evidence, records and official procedures were handled afterwards.
The CBI probe follows a Bombay High Court order dated September 2 directing the agency to investigate Salian’s death. The order came after her father, Satish Salian, alleged lapses in the investigation and questioned why Mumbai Police had not registered an FIR during the six years since her death. The High Court reportedly referred to “glaring discrepancies” and observed that the police investigation had “raised more questions than answers”.
The court also noted that Salian’s family had not been provided with the post-mortem report or the accidental death report. While directing the CBI investigation, it instructed the agency not to name anyone as an accused unless evidence supported such action.
Seema Pahuja, superintendent of police with the CBI’s Special Crimes unit at its headquarters in Delhi, will supervise the investigation. Her previous investigative assignments include the 2024 RG Kar case, the 2020 Hathras case, the 2017 Unnao rape case and the Kotkhai case involving the death of a schoolgirl in Himachal Pradesh.
The case now places the preservation of records, the handling of forensic material and the accountability of investigating officials at the centre of the CBI’s inquiry. The agency’s next steps will include examining the listed individuals and officials, reviewing case documents and determining whether the available evidence supports the addition of any accused.
