Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) leader Rohit Pawar on Wednesday accused the BJP of using the Disha Salian case for political gains ahead of the Mumbai elections, similar to how he claims the party politicized Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Speaking to ANI, Pawar said, “If any person is trying to get justice, he should get it. Disha Salian’s father has approached the court, and we respect his right to seek justice. But looking at the BJP’s past actions, they will definitely use this for political advantage.”
He further alleged that BJP had used the Sushant Singh Rajput case for electoral gains in Bihar and would now do the same with Disha Salian’s case.
“Four years ago, banners demanding ‘Justice for Sushant’ were put up in Bihar, but once elections were over, the case was forgotten. Now, after four years, BJP will revive the same issue just before the upcoming Bihar polls,” Pawar claimed.
The controversy reignited after Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, seeking a fresh investigation into his daughter’s 2020 death. The plea urges the court to direct an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and to transfer the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed these allegations and accused political opponents of exploiting the tragedy for their own agenda.
“This is not a murder case; it was an accident. The police investigation has already established this,” Raut stated, criticizing the media for sensationalizing the case.
He also questioned the timing of the petition, stating, “Her father has filed a petition five years after the incident. The whole state knows the politics behind this move.”
Raut alleged that BJP is reviving the Disha Salian case to divert attention from the Aurangzeb controversy, which had backfired on them.
“Since their Aurangzeb issue didn’t work in their favor, they are now bringing up the Disha Salian case to manipulate public opinion before elections,” he claimed.
He further accused political rivals of trying to tarnish Aaditya Thackeray’s image.
“This dirty politics is defaming our state. A youth leader who is doing good work is being targeted just to malign our party’s reputation,” Raut added.
Disha Salian, a celebrity manager, was found dead on June 8, 2020. Initially, the Mumbai Police registered it as an accidental death case, but in 2023, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe further.
As political tensions rise ahead of the Mumbai elections, the Disha Salian case continues to be at the center of political controversy.
