# Sooraj Pancholi denies meeting Disha Salian, backs CBI probe

2026-09-15T06:37:25+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Actor Sooraj Pancholi has denied any connection to the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian, after the CBI named him in an FIR along with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and others. In an Instagram post, Pancholi said he has never met Salian or Thackeray and called the repeated references to his name unfair and without evidence. He added that he was questioned by the CBI 4-5 years ago and is willing to cooperate again. The CBI registered the FIR after the Bombay High Court ordered a probe. Salian died after falling from a building in Mumbai in June 2020. The FIR includes charges of gang rape, murder and destruction of evidence, according to Disha's father's lawyer. Pancholi urged the public not to believe everything on social media or television, saying a headline is not evidence. He said he supports a fair CBI investigation and believes the truth will eventually come out.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Sooraj Pancholi denies meeting Disha Salian or Aaditya Thackeray after the CBI named him in an FIR over her 2020 death. He called the media and social media speculation unfair and without evidence. The actor says he was already questioned by the CBI 4-5 years ago and is willing to cooperate again. The FIR, filed after a Bombay High Court order, names several others including Rhea Chakraborty and Aaditya Thackeray. Pancholi urged the public not to treat headlines or debates as proof, saying someone's death should not destroy another's reputation.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sooraj-pancholi-says-his-name-is-being-unfairly-dragged-into-disha-salian-case-denies-meeting-her-or-aaditya-thackeray-someones-death-should-never-become-a-reason-to-destroy-another-persons-reputation-without-evidence/articleshow/134252786.cms>
  Leads with Pancholi's denial and quotes his statement at length, neutral framing of his position
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/sooraj-pancholi-says-he-never-met-disha-salian-after-cbi-names-him-in-fir-with-rhea-chakraborty-and-others-101789446190824.html>
  Leads with CBI naming him in FIR, includes advocate's detail of gang-rape charges, neutral framing
- news.abplive.com (neutral report) <https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/celebrities/disha-salian-death-case-sooraj-pancholi-breaks-silence-after-cbi-names-him-in-fir-1866801>
  Leads with denial, includes list of FIR names including Uddhav Thackeray, neutral framing

Tags: Aaditya Thackeray, Bombay High Court, CBI, Disha Salian, Rhea Chakraborty, Sooraj Pancholi
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