HC orders CBI probe into Disha Salian's death: ‘No one can be made accused unless...’ | India News - Hindustan Times

**Bombay High Court directs CBI probe into former Sushant Singh Rajput manager’s death**

The Bombay High Court on Friday ordered a fresh Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death of Disha Salian, who was Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager and was found dead in her Mumbai apartment in March 2020. Salian’s father, Gautam Salian, has been demanding an independent investigation for more than six years, alleging that the original police probe was compromised and that political and corporate interests have obstructed justice. In a detailed judgment, the bench emphasized that “no one can be made an accused unless the investigation establishes material evidence linking the individual to the alleged offence,” underscoring the need for an impartial, evidence‑based process.

The court’s order, issued under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, mandates that the CBI take over the case within 15 days and submit a progress report to the court every month. The judgment also directed the state government to provide all relevant case files and to ensure that the CBI is granted unrestricted access to forensic reports, CCTV footage, and phone records. Gautam Salian welcomed the decision, calling it “a ray of hope after years of bureaucratic lethargy,” while a lawyer representing Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Aaditya Thackeray cautioned that the investigation must remain free from “political weaponisation.” The lawyer further suggested that the Salian family’s narrative had been “used as a tool by rival factions,” reflecting the heightened political sensitivities surrounding the case.

Legal experts view the High Court’s directive as a watershed moment that could reshape the broader inquiry into Rajput’s death and the surrounding controversies. By placing the case in the hands of the nation’s premier investigative agency, the court aims to restore public confidence and ensure that any eventual charge sheet rests on solid forensic and documentary evidence. The CBI, which has already been tasked with probing Rajput’s demise, is expected to coordinate its efforts with the Salian investigation, with the first status report due by the end of October.