The Bombay High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 2020 death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, directing that the circumstances surrounding her death be investigated independently and thoroughly.
Salian, 28, died in June 2020 after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. She was reportedly at the building with her fiancé and friends at the time. Police had initially registered an accidental death case and later concluded that she had died by suicide.
The case attracted widespread attention after actor Sushant Singh Rajput, with whom Salian had briefly worked, died six days later. The proximity of the two deaths led to speculation about a possible connection, although police investigations had not established any such link.
A closure report filed in February 2021 stated that investigators had found nothing suspicious or objectionable in Salian’s death. However, her father, Satish Salian, challenged the police version before the Bombay High Court in March 2025.
He alleged that the suicide narrative had been created before a proper investigation was conducted. He also accused police officials and influential individuals of suppressing important facts. His petition sought an independent probe and transfer of the investigation to the CBI.
The case had earlier been re-examined by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the Maharashtra government ordered a reinvestigation. Witness statements were recorded again and CCTV footage was examined.
During the court proceedings, Salian’s father also alleged that his daughter had been raped and murdered. His lawyer, Nilesh Ojha, questioned the circumstances in which her body was found and argued that certain aspects of the case required further investigation.
The Maharashtra government and police, however, maintained that the available evidence did not indicate foul play. Police said several witnesses had been questioned and that none had alleged any criminal involvement in Salian’s death.
The High Court stressed that a proper investigation was necessary and that no person should be treated as an accused unless investigators find sufficient material against them. The court also observed that the allegations raised by Salian’s father could not simply be brushed aside.
The CBI probe is now expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death and determine whether there is evidence supporting allegations of criminal wrongdoing. The investigation will also have to establish the facts independently, without treating any individual as guilty unless evidence supports such a conclusion.
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