Disha Salian Death Case: Sanjay Raut Says Satish Salian’s INR 500 Crore Notice Was for ‘Publicity’
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has called Satish Salian’s INR 500-crore defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray an attempt to gain publicity. The remarks came after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into Disha Salian’s 2020 death and the agency registered an FIR, while Aaditya has denied ever meeting her.
The political dispute surrounding the death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian has intensified after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised her father Satish Salian’s decision to serve an INR 500-crore defamation notice on Aaditya Thackeray. Raut said on Sunday, September 20, that Disha’s death was unfortunate but described her father’s visit to Uddhav Thackeray’s residence to deliver the notice as an attempt to gain publicity. The comments come as a fresh CBI investigation into Disha’s 2020 death gets underway.
Satish Salian visited Matoshri on Saturday, September 19, with his lawyer to serve the notice on Aaditya Thackeray. The notice follows remarks by Aaditya about Satish’s efforts to seek a fresh investigation into his daughter’s death. The Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe on September 2, saying the earlier investigation was inadequate, and the agency subsequently registered an FIR. Disha Salian Case: Father Satish Salian Serves Notice to Aaditya Thackeray, Demands Apology, Rs 500 Cr Compensation.
Sanjay Raut Calls Notice A Publicity Attempt
Speaking to reporters, Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was pained by Disha Salian’s death but criticised the manner in which her father sought to deliver the legal notice. “It was an unfortunate incident. It is the misfortune of that girl that her father created a scene. That’s not pain,” said Raut.
Satish Salian had gone to Matoshri on Saturday to hand over an INR 500-crore defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray. The notice alleges that Thackeray made defamatory statements about him in connection with his efforts to seek a fresh probe into his daughter’s death. Disha Salian Case: Satish Salian Sends INR 500 Crore Defamation Notice to Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Deshmukh.
“It is very cheap the way you came to Matoshri for publicity,” Raut said. Raut also said the Sena (UBT) was aware of who was behind the developments surrounding the case. This is happening because of “some drunkard with a Nepal connection”, he said without elaborating.
INR 500 Crore Defamation Notice
Satish Salian’s notice seeks INR 500 crore in compensation from Aaditya Thackeray and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh over statements concerning the case. It also demands an apology and retraction of the statements, with the recipients given seven days to comply, according to reports.
The notice followed Aaditya Thackeray’s public denial that he had any connection with Disha Salian. In a post on X earlier this week, Aaditya said he had “never met Disha Salian” and had no acquaintance with her. He described attempts to link him to her death as part of a false campaign.
Uddhav Thackeray has also warned that he would pursue legal action if what he described as a “character assassination” campaign against his family continued.
CBI Probe Into Disha Salian’s Death
Disha Salian, 28, died in June 2020 after falling from a high-rise residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. She had briefly worked as a manager for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whose death days later led to widespread speculation about whether the two cases were connected.
Mumbai Police had registered an accidental death report and subsequently concluded that Disha’s death was a suicide.
The Bombay High Court changed the investigative course on September 2 when it directed the CBI to register an FIR and investigate “all aspects surrounding the circumstances in which petitioner lost her life.” The court also said no person should be treated as an accused unless investigators find sufficient material against them.
What The CBI FIR Says
The CBI has now registered an FIR based on a statement from Disha’s father. Reports say the FIR invokes provisions relating to serious offences including gang rape, murder and destruction of evidence.
Several names, including Aaditya Thackeray, have been mentioned in the complaint and FIR, but this does not mean those individuals have been formally named as accused. The Bombay High Court had specifically directed that no one should be treated as an accused unless the investigation produces sufficient material. The CBI investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Disha’s death and the issues raised by her father.
The fresh investigation has brought the case back into the centre of Maharashtra’s political debate. Raut has previously claimed that Satish Salian was being “controlled” by someone, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has questioned the political context surrounding the renewed investigation.
At the same time, Satish Salian has continued to pursue a fresh probe into his daughter’s death and has publicly challenged statements that he says have portrayed his campaign as politically motivated. His latest legal notice represents a separate defamation action and does not determine the findings of the CBI investigation.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The dispute over the INR 500-crore notice is unfolding alongside the CBI’s investigation into a case that has remained controversial since 2020.
The Bombay High Court’s September 2 order requires the central agency to examine the circumstances surrounding Disha Salian’s death. The court’s observations were made while deciding whether a fresh FIR and investigation were warranted, rather than as findings establishing criminal responsibility.
The CBI probe is now underway, while the legal dispute between Satish Salian and Aaditya Thackeray has added a separate political and defamation dimension to the case.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 06:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
