Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty named in Disha Salian's death case: Key details from CBI FIR - The Times of India

**Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty Named in Disha Salian’s Death Case: Key Details from CBI FIR**

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) on 23 September in the mysterious death of 28‑year‑old Disha Salian, a Delhi‑based social‑media influencer who was found dead in her apartment on 31 July. The FIR, obtained by *The Times of India*, lists two prominent personalities – Aaditya Thackeray, the Maharashtra minister and son of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, and actress Rhea Chakraborty, already under scrutiny in the Sushant Singh Rajput case – as having been “named” in the investigation. The CBI’s filing notes that Salian had allegedly been in contact with both individuals in the weeks preceding her death and that she had reportedly received threatening messages that may have contributed to her mental distress.

According to the FIR, Salian exchanged WhatsApp messages with Chakraborty between early June and mid‑July, during which Chakraborty allegedly demanded the return of a substantial sum of money that Salian claimed to have lent her. The document also records a series of phone calls and a meeting arranged by an aide of Aaditya Thackeray’s political campaign, purportedly to discuss “media strategy” for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The CBI has attached a senior officer, previously handling the high‑profile RG Kar and Hathras cases, to lead the probe, underscoring the sensitivity of the matter. The FIR states that the investigation will examine whether any intimidation, extortion, or misuse of political influence contributed to Salian’s deteriorating mental health and eventual suicide.

The filing has reignited a political firestorm. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a swift, transparent inquiry, accusing the Thackeray family of “weaponising the law” to stifle dissent. Shiv Sena (Uddhav) issued a brief statement calling the allegations “baseless” and urged the CBI to focus on factual evidence rather than “political mud‑slinging.” Analysts note that the case adds another layer to the series of high‑profile CBI investigations that have become flashpoints for partisan clashes, ranging from the Sushant Singh Rajput saga to the recent RG Kar and Hathras inquiries. The CBI has indicated that it will complete a preliminary report within 30 days, after which further legal action, if any, will be decided by the court.