Maharashtra: SIT for Disha Salian case, announces Devendra Fadnavis

Ruling parties target Aaditya Thackeray while opposition demands impartiality in investigating the case; in the upper house deputy chairman orders probe into rape charges against MP Rahul Shewale

Celebrity manager Disha Salian’s death in June 2020 continues to be a bone of contention between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray-led) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has aligned with the Eknath Shinde Sena. After ruling parties demanded amid several adjournments of the Assembly that the death case be probed, Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday the forming of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to work on new evidence, if any.

Outside the House, BJP legislator Nitesh Rane named former minister Aaditya Thackeray’s scrutiny in the case. Inside the House, the Thackeray scion was not named but frequent references were made to him. Rane’s party colleagues Amit Satam and Devayani Pharande pressed for the demand. The ruckus created by the two sides led to repeated adjournments. Earlier in the day, the lower house was adjourned and the Opposition staged a walkout over not being allowed to debate the phone-tapping case involving senior police officer Rashmi Shukla. A court in Pune has rejected the closure report in this case, following which Leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly Ajit Pawar accused the government of protecting the officer. He demanded to know Shukla’s political handler.

“The police are already probing this case (Salian’s death). Whoever claims to have evidence should submit it. An SIT will be formed to probe the death,” stated Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis. Pawar objected to the announcement, saying an investigating agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had concluded that it was an accidental death, and Salian’s parents had urged politicians to not use their daughter's death to humiliate them and the dead person further. “The parents have said that they might take the extreme step if the harassment continued and those using the case for politics will be responsible for any untoward incident,” he said, asking the Dy CM and ruling parties to respect the parents' wish.

Also read: SIT in Disha Salian death case meant to divert attention from land 'scam', says Sena (UBT)

“Don't politicise by reopening the cases that have been closed. If it is so, then, all such cases should be investigated,” said Pawar. In response, Fadnavis said the CBI has not investigated the Salian death. “The Sushant Singh case is with the CBI. What Ajit dada has said is based on news reports,” he stated, assuring that the probe will not target anyone and would be conducted impartially.

Order against MP Shewale

After SIT was ordered in the Salian death, the Thackeray Sena and other opposition parties demanded action against Shinde party’s Lok Sabha member from Mumbai Rahul Shewale. Thackeray Sena MLCs Manisha Kayande and Anil Parab raised the issue and urged deputy chairman Neelam Gorhe. They did not name the MP in the House, but many members mentioned him in their statements outside the house.

It was alleged that a woman had accused Shewale of raping her, but the police have not registered a case. They demanded that an FIR be filed without succumbing to political pressure from the ruling parties. Amid the ruckus, Gorhe directed the forming of a police SIT. However, it would be upto the government to follow the directive issued by Gorhe, a member of the Thackeray Sena.

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