MUMBAI: In response to the demand by the legislators of ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, the state government on Wednesday said the complaint by celebrity manager Disha Salian’s father in connection with her death will be handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed to probe the case. Further steps would be taken according to the police report and directives from the Bombay high court.
The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance also demanded inclusion of the Sushant Singh Rajput death case within the scope of the SIT appointed to probe Disha’s death, even though the CBI has ruled out any foul play and has sought its closure. The ruling alliance also demanded resignation of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on ethical grounds.
The demand came up in the state legislature, hours after Disha’s father Satish Salian met Mumbai police’s joint commissioner, demanding and FIR against Aaditya Thackeray and others for their alleged involvement in the alleged gangrape and murder of the celebrity manager in June 2020. In the assembly, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said Sushant Singh case was inter-linked to the Disha Salian death case and the Rajput case should also be investigated by the SIT.
“The Salian case is being investigated by the SIT, and the role of the then MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray in the Rajput death case should also come under its ambit,” said Kadam. “Though the CBI has submitted the closure report, the then Thackeray government did not cooperate with the central agencies. The case was handed over to the CBI late and by then, the evidence was tampered with by repainting the apartment, replacing furniture and damaging CCTV footage. This needs to be investigated afresh by the SIT.”
Another ruling party MLA (Shiv Sena) Sanjay Gaikwad demanded that Aaditya Thackeray should resign as an MLA on ethical grounds. “NCP leader Dhananjay Munde resigned as a minister after his close aide faced a case. Satish Salian has demanded filing of an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray alleging he was part of the group who gangraped and murdered Disha. The former minister is facing serious allegations and needs to resign as a lawmaker,” Gaikward said during zero hour.
The demand led to an uproar in the Assembly as the opposition raised strong objections. Interestingly, Gaikwad had supported Aaditya Thackeray when the petition by Satish Salian was filed in the Bombay high court last week. The change in his stand is believed to have come after party leadership gave him an earful, sources said.
Thackeray’s party colleague Varun Sardesai, responding to the demand by Ram Kadam, questioned if he was challenging the CBI’s decision to close the case. He also demanded to remove the proceedings related to Aaditya, calling these “attempts to defame him”.
Responding to the demands, tourism minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai said, “Satish Salian has met the police commissioner with additional information in the case. The information and complaint will be given to the SIT and the court will be apprised of the development.”
He also said the government will act once they get the SIT report. “The SIT is still probing the case, and further steps will be taken once the government receives the report, which will be submitted to the court. We will act as per the findings of the SIT and the directives by the court. If found involved in the case, nobody will be spared,” he said, adding that there would not be any unfair action.
In the legislative council, minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam, said the state government will probe the fresh allegations made by Satish Salian. “The victim’s father has come with new information to the home department. We will act as per law,’’ he said.
Shiv Sena MLC Bhavana Gawali raised the issue in the council and said that lawyer Nilesh Ojha has made fresh allegations in the Disha Salian case and asked for the section on rape (Section 376 of IPC) to be added. “This is an important topic. But when MLCs Chitra Wagh (BJP) and Manisha Kayande (Shiv Sena) try to raise the issue, the opposition tries to muzzle them,” he added.
