Disha Salian case: Raut backs Aaditya; says that the CBI FIR is trying to tarnish the image of the Thackeray family
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. File. | Photo credit: PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday (September 17, 2026) backed his party colleague Aaditya Thackeray in connection with the Disha Salian death case in which the CBI has filed an FIR, saying “people trust the Thackeray family”.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a first information report in the Disha Salian death case in 2020, naming no accused as per the Bombay High Court’s guidelines on her father’s request.
In his defence, Aaditya Thackeray claimed that some people are deliberately trying to associate his name with the case to smear his character with political motives.
The FIR by the CBI is an attempt to tarnish the image of the Thackeray family, Mr. Raut said.
“We are ready to fight. He (Aaditya) is not alone in this,” Mr. Raut said while replying to questions about Mr. Thackeray’s claim that he never knew or met the late Disha Salian.
People trust the Thackeray family, Mr. Raut added.
He attacked the Rane family, arch-rivals of the Thackerays, and said they should submit any evidence related to Disha Salian to the CBI. The Ranes claimed he had Thackeray’s connection to the case.
Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on 8 June 2020 after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Malad area of Mumbai.
Mr Raut also criticized Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for participating in the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ in Vadnagar, Gujarat on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mr Shinde has proved that Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray is not its leader, Mr Raut told reporters.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmaker also said it was time for Mr Modi to retire and hand over leadership to a suitable person, his comments coming as the Prime Minister turned 76 on Thursday (September 17, 2026).
“Modi has completed 75 years and it is time for him to retire and dedicate his life to social life. Seventy-five years is not an age to lead the country. He has served for a long time and his resolve should be to hand over the leadership to a suitable person,” Raut said.
The Rajya Sabha MP said the leadership should be given to someone well-versed in international and domestic affairs.
“The health of the country is not good, and if that is to change, then there is a need to change the leadership,” Mr. Raut said.
Published – 17 Sep 2026 16:57 IST