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Six years after Disha Salian's death, the case has returned to the centre of public attention with a fresh CBI investigation ordered by the Bombay High Court. The development is significant not because it proves any particular theory, but because it means several questions surrounding the earlier investigation will now be examined afresh.
Salian, a former manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died after falling from a building in Mumbai's Malad area on June 8, 2020. Her death, coming days before Rajput's death, generated intense speculation about a possible connection between the two cases. However, speculation is not evidence, and the fresh CBI investigation must establish facts independently.
Why Earlier Investigation Is Under Scrutiny
The Bombay High Court raised several questions before directing the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian's death. Among them were the timing of the spot panchnama, the presence of police officers near the building and the handling of important evidence. The court's order did not declare anyone guilty; it specifically directed that nobody should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerged during the investigation.
One particularly important area is the electronic evidence trail. Reports have highlighted questions concerning the seizure and subsequent handling of Salian's mobile phone and laptop. The CBI FIR has also recorded alleged contradictions relating to the phone's seizure and subsequent activity.
That naturally raises a broader question: what happened to every piece of digital evidence connected with the case? CCTV recordings, backups, storage devices and any hard-disk material reportedly connected to surveillance footage should be examined through a proper chain-of-custody process. It would be premature to state that a hard disk or evidence was deliberately removed or destroyed unless the CBI establishes that through forensic investigation.
Evidence Must Replace Narratives
The case has also acquired a strong political dimension, with Aaditya Thackeray denying allegations linking him to Salian's death.
That makes an evidence-led investigation even more important. The CBI should examine forensic records, electronic devices, CCTV material, witness statements and the chronology of the original investigation without allowing political narratives to determine the direction of the probe.
After six years, the public deserves more than competing theories. If the investigation establishes criminal wrongdoing, the evidence should lead to accountability. If it does not, that conclusion should also be accepted.
The real test of the Disha Salian CBI probe is therefore simple: follow every piece of evidence, including the digital trail, and let the evidence determine the answer.
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