Truth Awaits

For nearly four years, the death of Disha Salian, manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has remained a matter of intense speculation, whispers and conspiracy theories. Now, in a new twist, her family has approached the Bombay High Court, demanding a fresh investigation into what they allege was no suicide but a brutal murder orchestrated at the highest levels of politics and entertainment. The petition names, among others, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, scion of one of Maharashtra’s most famous political dynasties. The allegations are serious and it is high time for Thackeray to come forward and clear the air, and not evade the questions that refuse to go away.

Salian (28) was found dead on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a high-rise building in Malad. Just six days later, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his own apartment. The twin tragedies, which occurred under the watch of Aaditya’s father - Uddhav Thackeray’s Chief Ministership - set off a storm of speculation and political mudslinging with an absence of definitive answers. The Mumbai police quickly concluded that both deaths were suicides. But questions persisted. Why was Salian’s post-mortem conducted two days after her death? Why was it not disclosed earlier that her body was found without clothes? Why was the case hurriedly closed as an accidental death without exhausting all forensic avenues?

The latest petition filed by Salian’s father alleges that she was sexually assaulted and murdered, with a politically motivated cover-up shielding the guilty. It demands the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the registration of an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray. The petition further claims that Salian was in possession of damaging information about a powerful coterie of politicians, film industry figures and law enforcement officials, making her a target. It alleges that forensic and eyewitness evidence has been ignored or suppressed.

The Sena (UBT) predictably has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the case as a tool to discredit him. There is no doubt that politics is in play. But politics does not negate the need for accountability.

For Thackeray, this case is no longer just about a legal challenge but about his credibility. Silence, in such matters, fuels suspicion. If he truly has nothing to hide, he should welcome a thorough reinvestigation rather than dismiss it as a conspiracy. Anything less will allow doubts to fester and deepen public distrust.

The Mumbai police, too, must explain their actions. Their handling of Salian’s case has been clumsy at best and evasive at worst. The rushed conclusion of suicide despite circumstantial evidence suggesting otherwise is precisely what led to accusations of a cover-up.

The courts will decide whether the allegations against Thackeray and others hold merit. But perception matters. For a leader hoping to carve out a future beyond the shadow of his father, Aaditya cannot afford to be seen as dodging tough questions. He must cooperate fully with investigators and make a clean breast of any involvement in order to prove his innocence.