The father of Disha Salian, the late celebrity manager, has issued a ₹500-crore defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT). This action took place on Saturday at Matoshree, the residence of Uddhav Thackeray, the party chief. The notice stems from Thackeray’s claims of a “political conspiracy” related to Salian’s efforts to reopen the investigation into her death.
On Thursday, Aaditya denied knowing or having met Disha and alleged that attempts to link him to her death were politically motivated. Aaditya’s lawyers, Rahul Diwate and Anil Jadhav, accepted the notice. Sena (UBT) workers were present in large numbers outside Matoshree as Salian and his lawyers arrived. Police allowed the group to enter Kalanagar, but the doors of the Thackeray residence remained shut for security reasons. Sena (UBT) leaders MP Anil Desai and MLC Anil Parab, who is also an advocate, were present with their legal team. Her father later alleged that she was sexually assaulted and murdered. He asked why father and son did not do anything to intervene when the crime was being committed.
Satish Salian arrived around 4 pm with his legal team, led by advocate Nilesh Ojha, amid heavy police presence and a large media contingent in Bandra East’s Kalanagar. Salian had approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh probe into his daughter’s 2020 death. On September 2, the court directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, record Salian’s statement and register an FIR. The CBI registered the FIR on September 14 which named several people, including Aaditya Thackeray, though the High Court had said no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerged against them. Disha died after falling from a high-rise in Malad in 2020. Earlier reporting noted: Meanwhile, Akhil Chitre from the Sena (UBT) shared a document on socia media allegedly submitted by Salian in legal proceedings in January 2024, which apparently said that BJP leader Narayan Rane and his son, then BJP MLA NItesh Rane, were eyewitnesses to Disha Salian’s alleged rape and murder.
“Only God can control me, no one else,” Salian said, rejecting allegations that someone else was directing him. “Aaditya Thackeray should tender an apology or face defamation action,” Ojha said. Earlier reporting noted: “Only God can control me, no one else,” said Salian, refuting allegations that someone else was pulling the strings. His lawyer Nilesh Ojha said they had chosen to serve the notice in person “to show that as per the constitution, everyone has equal rights and no one is above the law”. Earlier reporting noted: “Aaditya Thackeray should tender an apology or face defamation action,” he said.
Mumbai Police had earlier ruled out foul play.
