Sooraj Pancholi says there's so much more to Disha Salian case than what's told

For Sooraj Pancholi, the return of the Disha Salian case to the spotlight has also meant the return of a name he says he has spent years trying to distance himself from. As the CBI begins a fresh investigation into Salian’s 2020 death, Pancholi has once again shared in-depth posts to explain his stance, saying he has “nothing to hide” and is willing to face any scrutiny. He has also urged the investigating agencies to examine the case “thoroughly and completely”, while asking that the same clarity be given to his name if the probe finds no connection.

Pancholi’s statement came after the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to investigate Salian’s death and register an FIR. The agency subsequently filed the FIR in September, with several people named as having roles requiring investigation. The FIR itself does not mean those named have been found guilty or are accused of a crime.

For Pancholi, however, the latest development has reopened a chapter he says has already cost him years. “I have never met late Disha Salian or Aditya Thackeray ever in my life. Not directly. Not indirectly!” he reiterated in a detailed statement shared online on September 24.

He said he had watched his name being repeatedly dragged into something he had “absolutely nothing to do with” and claimed the fallout had included online abuse and death threats. With the case back in focus, he said he no longer wanted to stay quiet.

“And now, when I am finally trying to rebuild my life, my career and my future, I refuse to stay silent and watch it happen all over again,” Pancholi wrote. “Because I have clearly nothing to hide or run away from!”Sooraj Pancholi says he's willing to face punishment

Pancholi was equally clear about what he wants from the renewed investigation: scrutiny, but with facts deciding what happens next. He said he had previously cooperated with authorities, answered questions and made himself available. He added that he remained ready to do so again if required.

“If there is even one small piece of evidence or any involvement connecting me to this matter, I am willing to face whatever punishment the law decides, without any questions,” he wrote.

At the same time, Pancholi asked for the other side of that finding to be made equally clear.

“If the investigation by the investigating agencies establishes that I genuinely have nothing to do with it, then I request the investigating agencies and the so called ‘HONEST MEDIA’ to please say that loud and clearly,” he said.

That distinction matters as the case moves forward. The CBI has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death; the Bombay High Court had also made it clear that no individual should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the investigation.Sooraj Pancholi takes aim at media

Pancholi also took aim at the way the controversy has played out in the media over the years.

He said some coverage had turned a deeply personal matter into entertainment, arguing that there was a real person and family behind every headline, accusation and piece of speculation.

“This may be entertainment or a dinner time story for some people, but this is my life!” he wrote.

He also suggested that he believed some of the attempts to link him to the case stemmed from issues people had with members of his family. Pancholi said he had “no personal issues with anybody” and stressed that he had “no political alliances, no political agenda and no interest in protecting or attacking anyone”.

He said his statement was still not everything he wanted to say. Pancholi claimed he had planned to post it before his Instagram account was blocked, something he said he still didn't understand. What he wants next is a proper conversation - not a shouted exchange designed for a clip.

He said he would speak when he found the “right platform”, describing that as a journalist or interviewer willing to ask difficult and uncomfortable questions directly, but do so “with composure, with facts, and with some basic understanding of journalism and humanity”.

Pancholi said there were things he had stayed quiet about for years, along with assumptions and reports that had never been put to him directly. When given the opportunity, he said, he would answer “every question. Directly. Honestly. Without fear.”

Disha Salian, who had briefly worked as a manager for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020 after falling from a building in Mumbai's Malad area. The initial investigation treated the death as accidental and Mumbai Police ruled out foul play. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Maharashtra government in 2023 also reportedly found no evidence of foul play.

The case returned to the spotlight after Salian's father, Satish Salian, approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh investigation. On September 2, the court directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, record her father's statement and register an FIR.

The CBI subsequently registered its FIR in September, bringing the case back into public focus. Reports on the FIR have identified several people whose roles are being examined, including Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray and others. The investigation is ongoing, and the FIR itself does not establish criminal involvement by any individual.

Aaditya Thackeray has denied ever meeting or knowing Salian and has described attempts to link him to the case as character assassination. Pancholi, meanwhile, says he's prepared to let the investigation run its course.- EndsPublished By: Anisha RaoPublished On: Sep 24, 2026 16:14 ISTALSO READ | Why have Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea, Dino Morea been named in Disha Salian CBI FIR?