The Bombay High Court on Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 2020 death of Disha Salian, who had served as the manager of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The court’s order came after a petition filed by Salian’s father, who alleged that the Mumbai police had mishandled the case from the outset, treating the death as an accident without sufficient forensic scrutiny.
In its judgment, the bench highlighted “glaring discrepancies” in the police investigation, noting that the panchnama—a crucial forensic record—was filed only after a considerable delay. The court also pointed to “unusual injury patterns” that were not adequately explained in the police report, raising doubts about the accidental‑death narrative that had been advanced for six years.
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Salian’s father, Ramesh Salian, argued that the police’s handling of the case suggested a cover‑up and demanded that a First Information Report (FIR) be lodged against a political leader he named in the petition. He contended that the investigation had been deliberately slowed, preventing key evidence from being collected in a timely manner and allowing potential witnesses to disappear.
The High Court’s decision to hand the case over to the CBI marks a significant shift from the state‑level probe that had been criticised for its lack of transparency. The CBI, a central agency, is expected to re‑examine the forensic evidence, re‑interview witnesses, and explore any possible links to political or criminal elements that may have been overlooked. The court’s order underscores the judiciary’s willingness to intervene when investigative agencies appear to falter.
Legal experts and civil‑society groups welcomed the ruling, saying it restores some confidence in the justice system after a protracted period of public scepticism. The court also warned the Mumbai police that any further attempts to obfuscate facts would attract contempt proceedings. As the CBI prepares to take charge, the case is likely to be revisited under a more rigorous investigative framework.
