Disha Salian Case: Rs 500 Cr Notice To Aditya Thackeray

Notice Seeks Apology Within Seven Days

The notice states the two leaders should tender an apology, withdraw the comments and pay Rs 500 crore in compensation. They have been given a seven-day period to comply.

"The aforesaid allegations are false, baseless, reckless and grossly defamatory, having been made without any credible material or proof and solely with a view to further your ulterior and improper motives. The said allegations amount to a direct and serious imputation upon the integrity, credibility, honesty and bona fides of my client (Satish Salian), by portraying a bereaved father, who was merely seeking a lawful investigation into the alleged gang rape and murder of his daughter, as a person abusing the judicial process for an improper, malicious and politically motivated purpose," the legal notice said.

Thackeray Denies Knowing Disha Salian

This notice came after Thackeray on Wednesday stated that he never met Salian, the ex-manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, and claimed that attempts to associate his name with her death were part of a fake campaign.

He said, "I have never met Disha Salian, nor did I have any acquaintance with her. For political motives, out of personal enmity, with the intent of character assassination, for the past 6 years, some people have been deliberately trying to link my name to this unfortunate incident repeatedly, despite there being no evidence or connection whatsoever.”

"This constant false campaign, devoid of any facts or truth, is unfortunate. The false discussions on TV channels and media trials carried out through empty bluster cannot alter the truth. Allow the official machinery to conduct this inquiry afresh—without any interference, without political intervention, without character assassination, and impartially," he added.

CBI Registers FIR After Court Order 

The FIR was registered by CBI on September 14 after the Bombay High Court had directed an inquiry into the death of Salian. The court while directing the investigation had said no person shall be treated as an accused unless there is material to establish the connection. 

28-year-old Disha Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020 after a fall from the 14th floor of a Malad residential building. She was registered as an accidental death and an ADR was registered. Six days after her death, actor Sushant Singh Rajput died. Days later, Disha's father who had earlier claimed that there was no criminal angle in her death, moved the Bombay High Court for an FIR to be registered and a new investigation to be carried out.

The petition had called for investigations into FIRs involving numerous people, including Aditya Thackeray, Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi.