'Not Suicide, It Was Murder': Nitesh Rane Reacts After Bombay HC Orders CBI Probe Into Disha Salian Death

In a major development surrounding the 2020 death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, the Bombay High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a First Information Report (FIR) and take over the probe from the Mumbai Police. Following the judicial directive, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane mounted a fresh attack on opposition leaders, reiterating his stand that the incident was foul play and demanding accountability from high-profile figures.

Minister Reaction and Allegations

Speaking to reporters following the High Court's ruling, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane claimed that the judicial direction validated long-standing doubts regarding the circumstances of Salian’s death.

“We were clear from day one that this was not a suicide. It was a murder case, and similar incidents are now coming to light,” Rane stated. He further expressed hope that the central agency's probe would uncover any alleged political interference or evidence tampering. Disha Salian Death Case: Bombay High Court Orders CBI Probe.

Rane directly targeted opposition figures, questioning their silence over the matter. "I hope that the injustice done to our sister Disha Salian, the way power was misused to destroy evidence, will all be exposed," he said. "If Aaditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, and others are not involved, there is no reason for them to remain silent... Their silence speaks volumes."

High Court Directs CBI to Register FIR

The Bombay High Court order came upon a petition filed by Satish Salian, Disha's father, who challenged the initial police inquiry and requested a central agency probe into allegations of foul play.

A division bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale noted several unexplained gaps and procedural delay in the initial inquiry conducted by the local police, observing that an extended inquiry without a formal FIR raised significant questions. The bench directed the Mumbai Police to transfer all relevant case records to a senior officer of the CBI.

Crucially, the court clarified that the registration of the FIR does not automatically label anyone as an accused. The bench directed that no individual should be named or detained without concrete evidence gathered during the central agency’s independent investigation. Disha Salian Death Case: Father Satish Salian Gets Emotional As Bombay HC Orders CBI Probe.

Nitesh Rane Attacks Opp After HC Directs CBI FIR in Disha Salian Case

#WATCH | Mumbai | On Bombay HC directs CBI to register FIR in Disha Salian death case, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, “We were clear from day one that this was not a suicide. It was a murder case, and similar incidents are now coming to light... I hope that the injustice… pic.twitter.com/MYpXzuFe9F

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2026

Background of the Case

Disha Salian, 28, who had previously managed talent including the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Malad suburb.

The Mumbai Police initially registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and maintained after preliminary inquiries that she had taken her own life. However, her family later approached the High Court alleging a cover-up and seeking a deeper investigation into the events leading to her death. The case has remained a point of intense political friction in Maharashtra, with leaders repeatedly exchanging allegations over the handling of the initial investigation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2026 12:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).