On 2 September 2026, the Bombay High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to register an FIR and conduct a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding Disha Salian’s death.
The development is significant because Mumbai Police had earlier investigated the case and said there was no evidence of foul play.
But after examining the records, the High Court found enough unanswered questions and investigative gaps to justify a fresh criminal investigation.
The case has also brought back another name that has remained closely associated with Disha’s story for years: Sushant Singh Rajput.
Disha died in June 2020. Six days later, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence.
That short gap between the two deaths triggered years of speculation, political allegations, television debates and social-media theories.
But what is fact? What was only alleged? What changed over the years? And why is the CBI investigating the case again now?
Here is the full story.
Who was Disha Salian?
Disha Salian was a 28-year-old celebrity and talent manager working in Mumbai’s entertainment industry.
Unlike actors whose careers unfold in front of the camera, Disha largely worked behind the scenes.
She worked in celebrity management and public relations and handled professional assignments involving entertainers. She was not a major public celebrity herself. Her name became nationally known only after her death in June 2020.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession | Celebrity and talent manager |
| Industry | Entertainment and public relations |
| Age at death | 28 |
| City | Mumbai |
| Date of death | 8 June 2020 |
| Connection with Sushant | Professional association through talent management |
| Original investigation | Mumbai Police |
| Current investigation | CBI following Bombay High Court order |
Disha is frequently described as “Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager”. That description can sometimes create the impression that they had a very close or long-term working relationship.
The available public record suggests the connection was professional and linked to the entertainment-management ecosystem, but the exact depth of that association has often been overstated in public discussion.
Who was Sushant Singh Rajput?
Sushant Singh Rajput was one of the most successful Indian actors to move from television into mainstream Hindi cinema without coming from an established Bollywood family.
Born in Patna in 1986, he initially studied engineering before leaving that path to pursue performing arts. He trained in dance, worked in theatre and then entered television.
His breakthrough came through the television serial Pavitra Rishta, where his role as Manav made him a household name. He later made a successful transition to films.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s major career milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Appeared in Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil |
| 2009 | Rose to national fame through Pavitra Rishta |
| 2013 | Made his film debut with Kai Po Che! |
| 2014 | Appeared in the blockbuster PK |
| 2015 | Played the lead in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! |
| 2016 | Played M.S. Dhoni in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story |
| 2018 | Starred in Kedarnath |
| 2019 | Appeared in Sonchiriya and Chhichhore |
| 2020 | Dil Bechara was released after his death |
His portrayal of M.S. Dhoni became one of the most important performances of his career.
He was also admired by many fans because he had built his career without belonging to an established Bollywood dynasty. That outsider image became even more important after his death, when debates around nepotism, power structures in Bollywood, mental health and alleged criminal wrongdoing exploded across Indian media.
June 2020: Six days that changed everything
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 8 June 2020 | Disha Salian died after falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai |
| 14 June 2020 | Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence |
| June-August 2020 | Rumours and allegations began linking the two deaths |
| August 2020 | Disha’s father publicly rejected murder and rape allegations |
| 2021 | Mumbai Police closed the inquiry after reporting no evidence of foul play |
| 2022 | Disha’s parents again objected to politicians using her death |
| 2022-23 | After a change of government in Maharashtra, fresh scrutiny began |
| March 2025 | Disha’s father sought a new investigation |
| March 2025 | CBI filed closure reports in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case |
| 2 September 2026 | Bombay High Court ordered a CBI investigation into Disha Salian’s death |
What happened on the night Disha died?
Disha was at a residential building in Malad, Mumbai.
During the night, she fell from the building and suffered fatal injuries. Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report and began an inquiry.
The post-mortem recorded injuries consistent with a fall from height. At the time, police said they did not find evidence establishing sexual assault or another criminal act.
The case was eventually treated as a suicide, and police said their inquiry had not revealed evidence of foul play. For several years, that remained the official position.
Six days later, Sushant Singh Rajput died
On 14 June 2020, only six days after Disha’s death, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra home. He was 34.
The extremely short gap between the two deaths immediately triggered speculation. People started asking whether the two cases were connected.
Television channels ran competing theories. Social media became flooded with claims. Political leaders entered the debate. Allegations involving Bollywood figures, politicians, financial transactions, drugs and possible cover-ups circulated widely.
But one point is important: no court has established that Disha Salian’s death and Sushant Singh Rajput’s death were part of the same criminal conspiracy.
Timing may create questions. It does not create proof.
What happened in Sushant Singh Rajput’s investigation?
Mumbai Police initially investigated Sushant’s death.
The situation changed after Sushant’s father filed an FIR in Bihar containing allegations against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others. The case eventually became a major legal battle over jurisdiction.
The CBI later took over the investigation. For years, investigators examined forensic evidence, witness statements, financial allegations, digital records and other material.
In March 2025, the CBI filed closure reports. The agency concluded that it had found no evidence of foul play in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
It did not find sufficient evidence to establish that the individuals accused in the connected cases had abetted his death.
So, as matters currently stand, the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death has not established murder.
That is important when discussing any alleged connection with Disha Salian’s death.
Disha’s parents originally rejected murder allegations
One of the most important parts of the entire story is the changing position of Disha’s family.
In August 2020, her father Satish Salian wrote to Mumbai Police complaining about rumours and media reports surrounding his daughter’s death.
At that time, he said the family did not suspect anyone of foul play. He also rejected claims that Disha had been raped or murdered.
The family said the rumours were damaging Disha’s reputation and causing further trauma.
This was not an ambiguous position. At that stage, the family was publicly rejecting the conspiracy theories.
In 2022, the family again asked politicians to stop
Two years later, the family was still objecting to the political use of Disha’s death.
Her parents publicly appealed to politicians not to drag their daughter’s name into political arguments. They said they had already lost their only daughter and wanted the rumours and allegations to stop.
This history is important because what happened later represented a major change.
Why did Maharashtra politics become part of the case?
When Disha and Sushant died in 2020, Maharashtra was governed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
His son Aaditya Thackeray was also a minister in the Maharashtra government.
Over time, several BJP leaders publicly questioned the circumstances surrounding Disha’s death. Serious allegations were made about possible involvement of influential people.
Aaditya Thackeray has consistently denied wrongdoing.
No court has found him guilty of any offence in connection with Disha Salian’s death.
That distinction must remain clear. Political allegations are not the same as judicial findings.
Then Maharashtra’s government changed
The political landscape changed dramatically in 2022.
The Uddhav Thackeray government collapsed after a split in Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. A new government was formed with the support of the BJP.
Fresh scrutiny of the Disha Salian case followed. A Special Investigation Team was also set up to examine the matter.
But the reopening of scrutiny did not itself prove that the earlier investigation was corrupt or that Disha had been murdered. It simply meant the case was no longer politically or institutionally closed.
2025: Disha’s father changes his position
Then came one of the biggest twists in the case.
Satish Salian, who had previously said he trusted the Mumbai Police investigation and did not suspect foul play, changed his position.
He approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh investigation into his daughter’s death.
He alleged that the death involved a serious criminal conspiracy and asked for the matter to be investigated by the CBI.
His petition included serious allegations involving powerful individuals. Those allegations remain allegations. They are not proven facts.
The Bombay High Court did not simply accept those claims as true. Instead, the judges focused on how the original investigation had been conducted.
What did the Bombay High Court find troubling?
This is where the 2026 development becomes genuinely important.
The High Court examined the records and identified a number of issues that it believed required further investigation.
- The spot panchnama was conducted several hours after the incident.
- Questions arose around the timing and contents of the Accidental Death Report.
- There were issues concerning the presence and timing of police personnel at the building.
- The handling of forensic and physical evidence raised questions.
- Disha’s mobile phone and laptop were not immediately seized despite their potential importance.
- The overall inquiry stretched across a long period despite the need for prompt investigation in an unnatural death.
None of these issues, by themselves, proves murder.
But together they were serious enough for the court to conclude that the original investigation required a fresh and more comprehensive examination.
The court’s key concern
The most important part of the judgment was not a finding against a politician, actor or police officer.
It was criticism of the quality of the original investigation.
The High Court observed that the investigation raised more questions than answers.
That is the central reason the matter has now been handed to the CBI.
What exactly has the Bombay High Court ordered?
The High Court directed that:
- The CBI appoint a suitably experienced senior investigating officer.
- Disha’s father Satish Salian’s statement be formally recorded.
- An FIR be registered.
- The CBI investigate all relevant circumstances surrounding Disha’s death.
- Mumbai Police hand over the necessary records and material.
- No person should automatically be treated as an accused unless investigators find sufficient material.
- If evidence of an offence is found, the CBI can proceed according to law.
- If no offence is established, the CBI can file a closure report.
This last point is particularly important.
The court has ordered an investigation. It has not declared anyone guilty.
What the High Court has NOT concluded
The Bombay High Court has not concluded that:
- Disha Salian was murdered.
- Disha was sexually assaulted.
- Aaditya Thackeray was involved in her death.
- Any politician participated in a cover-up.
- Disha’s death and Sushant Singh Rajput’s death were part of one conspiracy.
- Mumbai Police deliberately concealed a crime.
The court’s order means the matter must be investigated properly. It does not mean the most sensational theory has already been proven.
Previous government vs current situation
| Period | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2020, Uddhav Thackeray-led government | Mumbai Police investigated Disha’s death |
| 2020-21 | Police said no evidence of foul play was found |
| 2020-22 | Disha’s own family publicly rejected murder theories |
| 2022 | Maharashtra government changed |
| 2022-23 | Fresh political and investigative scrutiny began |
| 2025 | Satish Salian changed his position and sought a new investigation |
| 2026 | Bombay High Court ordered a CBI investigation |
It would be too simplistic to say: “The old government buried the case and the new government exposed it.”
That is not yet proven.
What can safely be said is that the original investigation took place under the previous government, political leaders later questioned it, the government changed, fresh scrutiny followed, and eventually the Bombay High Court itself found enough problems in the investigative record to order a CBI probe.
That is already significant. There is no need to exaggerate it.
The biggest unanswered question: Why did Disha’s father’s position change?
This is one of the most important unresolved issues.
In 2020, Satish Salian said he did not suspect foul play. He rejected murder and rape claims. He said the family trusted Mumbai Police.
In 2022, the family again objected to political use of Disha’s death.
By 2025, he was asking for a CBI investigation and making serious allegations.
That is a major reversal.
It does not automatically prove that his later allegations are correct. It also does not mean they should be dismissed.
Investigators will likely need to understand what changed, what information he received and whether that information can be independently verified.
Is there really a Disha-Sushant connection?
This remains the question that attracts the most attention.
What is established is simple: Disha died first. Sushant died six days later. They had a professional connection through the entertainment industry.
What has not been established is a criminal connection between their deaths.
The CBI’s separate investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death concluded without establishing foul play.
The Bombay High Court’s latest order in Disha’s case does not overturn that conclusion.
However, the CBI has now been asked to investigate all relevant circumstances surrounding Disha’s death.
If investigators discover credible evidence connecting her death to another event or person, they can follow that evidence.
Until then, any alleged connection remains unproven.
Why this case matters even without the conspiracy theories
Take away the political shouting, Bollywood names and social-media noise, and the public-interest issue becomes much simpler.
A 28-year-old woman died.
Police investigated the death.
For years, the matter was treated as one where no criminal offence had been established.
Six years later, a constitutional court examined the records and found enough unresolved issues to order an FIR and a fresh CBI investigation.
That matters regardless of which political side someone supports.
If the original conclusion was correct, a thorough investigation can establish that.
If mistakes were made, they need to be identified.
If evidence of a crime exists, investigators need to follow it.
What happens now?
The focus now shifts to the CBI.
Investigators may examine:
- People who were present at the building.
- Police personnel who attended the scene.
- CCTV footage and the timeline of events.
- Disha’s mobile phone and laptop.
- Call records and digital communications.
- Medical and forensic evidence.
- Statements recorded during the original inquiry.
- Documentation connected with the ADR.
- Information later provided by Disha’s family.
- Any credible evidence involving other individuals.
There is, however, a major challenge.
Six years have passed.
Witness memories can fade. Digital evidence can disappear. Devices change. Records can become difficult to recover.
That delay makes the quality of the new investigation especially important.
Six years later, the case is back where it started: with questions
There have been television trials. There have been political accusations. There have been social-media campaigns.
There have been allegations of murder, sexual assault, conspiracy and cover-up. There have also been official investigations saying that no evidence of foul play was found.
Now, six years after Disha Salian’s death, the Bombay High Court has effectively said that the matter deserves a proper fresh investigation.
That does not prove the most sensational theory.
It means the questions surrounding the earlier investigation are serious enough that they cannot simply be ignored.
For Disha’s family, the CBI investigation offers another opportunity to establish what actually happened.
For those who have spent years claiming there was a conspiracy, it creates a different test: allegations will now need evidence.
And for those who continue to connect Disha’s death with Sushant Singh Rajput’s, the same standard applies.
Six years of speculation have produced thousands of claims.
The next chapter should not be decided by hashtags, political speeches or television debates. It should be decided by what the evidence can actually prove.
