'Why should I even respond to this?': Aaditya Thackeray on Disha Salian case after HC orders CBI probe

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday dismissed allegations linking him to the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, questioning why he should respond to them. His remarks came after the Bombay high court directed the CBI to probe Salian’s death.Speaking to reporters, Aaditya Thackeray, the son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said, "It's something that I have nothing to do about and not even thought about. Why should I even respond to this? BJP tries to defame everybody. They have tried to make Rahul Gandhi a 'Pappu' for years.”“They have tried to defame me for the last six years. Anybody who pricks the BJP, they have a problem with them. Like I said, when you have nothing to do with anything, why speak on anything or give it any importance? That's my stand..." he added.Earlier in the day, Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane said that if Thackeray and others named in connection with the case had nothing to do with Salian’s death, they should come forward and clarify their position.Rane said he had maintained from the beginning that Salian’s death should not be treated as a suicide and expressed confidence that the CBI investigation would establish the facts."We were clear from day one that this was not a suicide; this was a murder case. And events of that nature are now coming to light. Now the CBI investigation will begin, and an FIR will be lodged," Rane said.He said he expected the probe to examine allegations of evidence being destroyed and misuse of power."My only expectation is that regarding the wrong that was done to our sister named Disha Salian—the way power was misused to destroy evidence and proof—all of those things are now going to come out. In the end, no matter how much you try to hide the truth, it eventually comes out," he added.Bombay HC orders CBI probeThe remarks came after the Bombay high court directed the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death. The court also directed Malvani Police Station to hand over relevant records to the CBI.The high court said no person should be treated as an accused merely on the basis of allegations made before the court.“Nobody shall be treated as an accused unless in the opinion of the investigating officer there are sufficient grounds to raise reasonable suspicion against him depending on the material collected during the investigation,” the court said.The CBI has been asked to appoint a suitably experienced and senior officer to conduct the investigation.The court also said that if the probe finds that no criminal case has been made out, the CBI must file an appropriate summary report before the competent court.“In case the investigation reveals that no case is made out, then the CBI shall file the appropriate summary report before the court concerned,” it said.Salian’s father, Satish Salian, would be free to challenge such a report and file objections before the court.The high court had earlier raised concerns over the registration of only an Accidental Death Report (ADR), instead of an FIR, despite allegations made by Salian’s family. It also noted that copies of the post-mortem report and ADR had not been provided to the family even years after her death.Advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represented Satish Salian, said the court had directed the CBI to record his statement and appoint a senior officer to investigate the case.The court described Salian’s father as an “unfortunate” parent who had lost his young daughter in “tragic circumstances” and said the matter required a substantive investigation. However, it did not make any adverse finding against any individual named in the allegations.Thackeray had separately approached the high court seeking to intervene in the proceedings. In his application, he described Satish Salian’s petition as “false, frivolous and motivated” and sought an opportunity to be heard before any order was passed.Salian, a celebrity manager, was found dead on June 8, 2020, after falling from a building in Mumbai. Her death occurred days before actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.