Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi has issued a clarification after his name was linked to the ongoing investigation into celebrity manager Disha Salian’s 2020 death. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently registered an FIR to begin its probe into the case.
According to ANI, Advocate Nilesh Ojha, who is representing Disha’s father, Satish Salian, said the FIR names Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, Rohan Roy, Rhea Chakraborty and former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in connection with the case. Disha had worked as the manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Sooraj Pancholi breaks silence on Disha Salian’s case
Amid the renewed attention surrounding the case, Sooraj took to social media to address reports linking him to Disha. The actor categorically stated that he had never met her and maintained that he had no connection with or involvement in the case. His statement comes as the CBI begins its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Disha’s death.
He took to his Instagram handle and penned a long note. The carousel read, “For the last few years, my name has been dragged into the controversy surrounding the unfortunate demise of Late Disha Salian through various media reports and statements. I want to say this out loud and very clearly! I have never met Late Disha Salian in my life, directly or indirectly. I have also never met Aditya Thackeray in my life! It is honestly very unfair and extremely upsetting to see my name being dragged into something that I have absolutely nothing to do with, especially when there is no evidence or proof connecting me to this matter.”
Sooraj Pancholi went on to add, “I have stayed quiet for a long time because I did not want to keep responding to every report or every story written about me. But when the same thing keeps happening again and again, there comes a point where you have to speak for yourself. Regarding this matter, I have already been investigated by the CBI /police and my statement was recorded by the agencies almost 4–5 years ago. I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE! If any investigating agency feels that they need to question me again or require any further information from me, I am completely willing to cooperate and make myself available for any investigation. All I am asking for is that the facts are checked before my name is dragged into something like this. I strongly support a fair and thorough CBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Late Disha Salian.”
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The actor further shared, “At the same time, I also believe that there should be an investigation into the malicious propaganda and false narratives being created around this unfortunate incident, because someone’s death should never become a reason to destroy another person’s reputation without evidence. And to everyone who is reading this please don’t believe everything you see on the news or on social media! A headline is not evidence. A debate is not evidence. Someone saying something on television does not make it a fact.”
Sooraj concluded his statement, “Please verify things before forming an opinion about someone’s life and character. Because behind every name being discussed on television is a real person, with a real family and a real life. I have stayed quiet for a long time, but I will not allow my name to be continuously dragged into something I have absolutely no connection with. I have faith in the law. I have faith in the investigating agencies. And I have faith that ultimately, the truth will come out.Let the facts speak. Let the investigation speak. Let the truth speak. Jai Hind.”
All about Disha Salian’s case
For the unversed, advocate Nilesh Ojha said the CBI registered an FIR after examining the complaint filed by Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, along with his statement recorded by the agency. The FIR was filed on Monday following a Bombay High Court directive for an in-depth probe into Disha’s 2020 death.
Disha, who had worked as Sushant Singh Rajput’s manager, died after falling from the 12th floor of a building in Malad around 2:25 am on June 9, 2020. The Malwani police had registered an accidental death report and concluded that she died by suicide, finding no evidence of foul play. A state-appointed Special Investigation Team, formed in December 2023, also found no evidence of foul play in the case.
