Disha Salian’s Father’s Lawyer Alleges Eyewitnesses Against Aaditya Thackeray
Advocate Nilesh Ojha Expresses Trust in CM Devendra Fadnavis but Doubts SIT's Probe into Disha Salian's Death
Disha Salian Case: Attorney States Eyewitnesses Against Aaditya Thackeray
Mumbai: The lawyer for the father of Disha Salian accused the presence of eyewitnesses who saw actor duo Aditya Pancholi and Dino Morea, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and his bodyguards, gang-raping the celebrity manager. Advocate Nilesh Ojha said he had the utmost faith in Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis but did not trust the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating Disha’s demise.
The charges made by Disha’s father, who has gone to the Bombay High Court with a new petition asking for an investigation into her death, have increased political tensions between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the ruling Mahayuti.
Eyewitness Accounts and Charges
“Enough evidence is available, including eyewitnesses who have witnessed Aditya Pancholi, Dino Morea, Aaditya Thackeray, and his bodyguards gang-raping the victim,” Ojha asserted.
Disha, a former manager of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after allegedly falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai. At the time, police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) case. However, just six days later, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case of Sushant’s death, while Disha’s case is under investigation by an SIT set up by the Maharashtra government in 2023.
Petition Against Aaditya Thackeray
In his petition, Disha’s father alleged that on June 8, his daughter had hosted a party at her home, which was also attended by Aaditya Thackeray, along with actors Sooraj Pancholi and Dino Morea. The plea is for the registration of an FIR against Thackeray, who has refuted the allegations.
Questioning the investigation by the SIT, which has not yet filed its report, Advocate Ojha indicated that Fadnavis was not being adequately briefed by police officers.
“We believe (Devendra) Fadnavis but not the SIT. We feel that the officers are not briefing Fadnavis properly. What is the CBI doing in the Sushant Singh Rajput case? Why no chargesheet has been filed?” he asked.
Discrepancies in the Investigation
Ojha also accused Aaditya Thackeray of interfering in the case in 2023 and making false statements that the CBI had investigated the case and issued him a clean chit.
“We have made an application seeking action against Thackeray for perjury as the CBI never investigated the case,” Ojha said.
But he made it clear that Disha’s family “completely trusted” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to see that justice prevailed.
“SIT is made up of junior officials. Will they act against top police officials? No. So the SIT is meaningless. There are elements of inefficiency within the administration,” he insisted.
Political Backlash
Aaditya Thackeray has rubbished the charges, labeling them as an effort by the BJP to ruin his image.
“These charges have been pending for the last five years. If the case is in court, I will reply in court,” the Worli MLA said to journalists on Thursday.
As the case attracts renewed focus and political overtones, the Bombay High Court’s ruling on the petition can determine the direction of the investigation. In the meantime, the SIT and CBI are under the spotlight for the speed and transparency of their respective investigations.
