Disha Salian case: Raut backs Aaditya; says CBI FIR attempt to malign Thackeray family image

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 with regard to the Disha Salian death case, in which the CBI has filed an FIR, and asserted "people trust the Thackeray family".The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a First Information Report in the 2020 Disha Salian death case, naming no accused in compliance with Bombay High Court directives on a petition filed by her father.In his defence, Aaditya Thackeray has claimed that some people are deliberately trying to link his name to the case to tarnish his character with political motives.The FIR by the CBI is an attempt to malign 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 answering questions about Mr. Thackeray's claim that he never knew or met late Disha Salian.People trust the Thackeray family, Mr. Raut added.He hit out at the Rane family, the arch-rivals of the Thackerays, and said they should present to the CBI any evidence pertaining to Disha Salian. The Ranes have been alleging Thackeray's link to the case.Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area.Mr. Raut also slammed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for participating in the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' in Vadnagar in Gujarat to mark 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 his leader, Mr. Raut told reporters.The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP also said the time has come for Mr. Modi to retire and hand over the leadership to an appropriate person, his comments coming as the PM turned 76 on Thursday (September 17, 2026)."Modi has completed 75 years, and it is time for him to retire and devote his life to social life. Seventy-five years is not the age to lead the country. He has served for a long time, and his resolution should be to hand over the leadership to appropriate person," Mr. Raut said.The Rajya Sabha MP said leadership should be handed over to someone who is well-versed with international and domestic affairs."The country's health is not good, and if that has to be changed, then it is necessary to change the leadership," Mr. Raut said. Published - September 17, 2026 04:57 pm IST