Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday alleged that the CBI’s FIR in the death of Disha Salian was part of a “political conspiracy” to tarnish the image of the Thackeray family.
Raut said the Mumbai Police had already investigated Salian’s death and found no link between the case and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. He alleged that the fresh CBI probe was being used to target Aaditya, who has been critical of the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“The way the matter was taken to court, which gave an order (to hand over the case to CBI), is a conspiracy. It has specifically said to conduct a CBI probe but do not name anyone. Yet names are being taken in the media,” Raut told reporters.
The CBI registered an FIR in the case after the Bombay High Court ordered a probe into Salian’s death on September 2. The FIR names no accused, in accordance with the court’s directions on a petition filed by Salian’s father.
Raut also alleged that the CBI probe was being used to divert attention from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s agitation or to pressure the Shiv Sena (UBT) over the delimitation bill in Parliament.
“This is a political conspiracy by Delhi to tarnish the image of the Thackeray family, which enjoys a place in the hearts of people,” he said.
He further alleged that the FIR was being selectively leaked to the media, claiming that only one of its 16 pages had been circulated.
Raut linked the development to the ongoing Supreme Court case over the Shiv Sena’s bow-and-arrow symbol, which was allotted to the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
“The same people have started a campaign against the Thackeray family because of the ongoing Supreme Court case on the bow and arrow party symbol (allotted to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena),” he said.
Salian, 28, who had briefly worked as the manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. The Mumbai Police registered an accidental death report and later concluded that she had died by suicide.
Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence six days later, triggering speculation about a possible connection between the two deaths.
(With inputs from PTI)
