Sooraj Pancholi Denies Any Link to Disha Salian Case After CBI FIR

Actor Sooraj Pancholi has publicly denied any connection to the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a fresh FIR in the case and his name surfaced in connection with it.

In a statement posted on social media late on September 14, Pancholi said he had never met Salian, directly or indirectly, and had also never met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. He described the continued association of his name with the matter as unfair and deeply upsetting, adding that no evidence linked him to it.

The CBI registered the FIR on September 14, acting on a Bombay High Court order of September 2 that directed the agency to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salian's death in June 2020. The court asked the CBI to examine all aspects of the case but did not name anyone as an accused at that stage.

Reports citing advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Salian's father Satish Salian, said the FIR mentions several individuals, including Pancholi, Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty and Dino Morea. The appearance of a name in an FIR does not by itself establish guilt, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Pancholi said he had already been questioned by the CBI and police several years ago, with his statement recorded around four to five years back, and that he had nothing to hide. He added that he was fully willing to cooperate and make himself available if any agency needed to question him again.

He also urged the public to separate allegations and televised debate from established fact, saying a headline or a discussion is not evidence. Pancholi said he supported a fair and thorough CBI investigation, and called for a probe into what he described as malicious propaganda and false narratives surrounding the incident. He concluded by expressing faith in the law, the investigating agencies and the eventual emergence of the truth.