Satish Salian Serves Defamation Notice to Aaditya Thackeray
The tragic death of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager, Disha Salian, has once again taken center stage in Maharashtra politics. Satish Salian, the father of Disha Salian, visited Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' on Saturday to hand over a Rs 500 crore defamation notice to MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
According to a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary, Thackeray's lawyers accepted the legal notice from Salian. This development has triggered a fresh wave of political slugfest in the state, with leaders from opposing factions exchanging sharp accusations.
Satish Salian stated to reporters that MLA Aaditya Thackeray defamed him and his family publicly, which forced him to take this decisive legal step. However, the move has drawn severe political reactions from the Thackeray camp.
Sanjay Raut's Allegation: 'Nitesh Rane Pulling the Strings'
Reacting sharply to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut accused BJP leader Narayan Rane's family, specifically Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane, of dragging Aaditya Thackeray's name into the controversy for political gains.
Raut claimed that Satish Salian is being controlled by external forces and is being used as a 'puppet' to hurl mud at the Thackeray family. "You are acting as puppets in someone else's hands and throwing dirt at us," Raut told reporters, adding that Salian was being manipulated.
Raut further asserted that six years ago, Salian himself had accepted that his daughter's death was an accident rather than a murder, raising questions on why the issue is being revived now.
"Satish Salian is being used as a pawn by certain individuals. This is a targeted character assassination campaign against the Thackeray family." — Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP, Shiv Sena (UBT)
Aaditya and Uddhav Thackeray's Stance
Earlier in the week, Aaditya Thackeray categorically denied any connection to the Disha Salian death case, stating that he never met her in his life and dismissing all allegations as entirely baseless and politically motivated.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also warned earlier that if the character assassination campaign targeting his family does not cease, they would take strict legal action against those involved.
Background of the Disha Salian Case
Disha Salian, who managed Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after reportedly falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Malad, Mumbai. Just a week later, on June 14, 2020, Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment, sparking widespread speculation linking the two tragedies.
While investigating agencies initially closed the probe citing accidental death, political opponents have frequently raked up the issue, keeping the controversy alive in Maharashtra's turbulent political arena.
