Sushant Singh, Ex-Manager Died Week Apart, Her Father Says Deaths Are Linked - NDTV

**Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager Disha Salian and the late actor died a little over a year apart, but her father insists the two deaths are connected** – a claim that resurfaced after the Bombay High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Salian’s demise. The father, Suraj Salian, told NDTV that the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death in August 2022 bear striking similarities to the 2020 death of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput, whose suicide sparked a nationwide debate over mental health, media trials and alleged conspiracies. He said both were “young, ambitious, and under pressure,” adding that the “same forces” that may have contributed to Rajput’s tragic end could have also played a role in his daughter’s unexplained passing.

The Bombay High Court’s decision to refer the case to the CBI came after Salian’s family filed a petition seeking a thorough, independent investigation. The court noted “grave lacunae” in the police’s handling of the case, including delays in forensic examinations and inconsistencies in the autopsy report. In its order, the bench directed the CBI to examine the possibility of foul play, scrutinise any links between the two deaths, and assess whether external pressure or intimidation might have influenced the outcomes. The CBI has since formed a special team, and officials have said they will look into the “entire chain of events” surrounding both incidents.

Government officials and the entertainment industry have responded cautiously. While the Ministry of Home Affairs affirmed its cooperation with the CBI, senior police officials emphasized that any connection must be substantiated by evidence, not speculation. Industry insiders, many of whom had worked with both Rajput and Salian, have called for privacy and a swift, transparent inquiry to bring closure to the families. The probe is expected to take several months, after which findings will be submitted to the court for further orders.