The Bombay High Court has questioned why an FIR was not registered in the 2020 death of Disha Salian. The bench raised doubts about postmortem findings and police procedures following a plea by the victim's father, who has alleged foul play.
The Bombay High Court on Monday raised concerns regarding the ongoing investigation into the 2020 death of celebrity manager Disha Salian. During the proceedings, the bench comprising Justices Bharti Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande questioned the Mumbai police on the absence of a formal First Information Report (FIR). The court specifically sought clarification on why the police maintained an Accidental Death Report (ADR) despite allegations of foul play raised by the victim's family.
Satish Salian, the father of Disha Salian, has approached the court to demand a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). His petition alleges that his daughter’s death was not a suicide and includes claims against Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray. The legal representatives for the petitioner argued that the initial investigation was compromised and suggested that evidence, including postmortem reports, may have been mishandled or fabricated.
Representing the state, Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray maintained that the police conducted two separate inquiries into the incident, both of which concluded that the death was a result of suicide. He stated that these findings were supported by witness accounts. However, the bench expressed skepticism regarding the medical evidence provided. Justice Dangre questioned the consistency of the report, noting the lack of reported injuries that would typically result from a fall from such a significant height, specifically a 14th-floor residential building.
In response to the court's query about the condition of the body, the prosecutor stated that photographs documented head injuries. This was immediately challenged by the counsel for the petitioner, who alleged that earlier records lacked such evidence and accused the authorities of presenting manipulated documentation. The court also reprimanded the police for failing to provide the petitioner with access to essential documents, including the original ADR.
The case has been a subject of long-standing public and political debate, given its proximity to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020. The High Court has adjourned the matter for further hearing, which is now scheduled for August 24, 2026. Investors and observers will track the upcoming proceedings to see if the court orders a change in the investigative agency or mandates further action from the state police.