Aaditya Thackeray rejects 'Rs 500 crore defamation notice', refuses apology to Disha Salian’s father

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray Wednesday rejected the Rs 500-crore defamation notice served on him by Satish Salian, father of late celebrity manager Disha Salian, describing the allegations as “frivolous” and refusing to withdraw his social media posts or issue an apology. In a detailed response sent through his lawyer, Thackeray denied “every allegation, assertion, insinuation, interpretation, demand and claim” made in the notice. He maintained that the posts cited by Salian did not mention him and therefore could not constitute defamation against him.

Posts did not name Salian

Satish Salian had sent Thackeray a legal notice on September 17, alleging that two posts published by the Sena (UBT) MLA in English and Marathi a day earlier had defamed him. The notice sought an unconditional apology and Rs 500 crore as compensation. Thackeray’s response said the posts had addressed what he described as a sustained campaign by political actors, vested interests and sections of the media linking his name to Disha Salian’s death.

“My client’s posts addressed the sustained campaign by political actors, vested interests and sections of the media that have repeatedly linked his name with this tragic case without placing verified evidence in the two SIT investigations,” the reply said. His lawyer argued that Thackeray had made no defamatory statement against Satish Salian and that the notice had sought to attribute meanings to the posts that were neither stated nor intended. Thackeray has refused to delete or withdraw the posts, issue an apology or correction, give an undertaking, or pay the compensation demanded.

Stands by denial

The Sena (UBT) leader also reiterated his earlier public position that he had never met or known Disha Salian.

Disha, a celebrity manager, died after falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai’s Malad in June 2020. Mumbai Police had earlier ruled out foul play. Her death subsequently became the subject of political controversy, with several claims and counterclaims being made over the circumstances surrounding it. Satish Salian later sought a fresh investigation, alleging that his daughter had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, record her father’s statement and register an FIR.

The CBI subsequently registered a case. The High Court had made it clear that no person named in the complaint should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerged during the investigation. Thackeray has consistently denied any involvement in Disha’s death and has said attempts to associate him with the case were politically motivated.

Notice served at Matoshree

The legal dispute intensified after Satish Salian and his lawyers went to Matoshree, the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, on September 19 to serve the notice personally. Amid heavy police presence and a gathering of party workers, the notice was eventually accepted by Aaditya Thackeray’s lawyers.

Salian has rejected suggestions that his actions were being directed by political interests and has maintained that he is pursuing justice for his daughter. In his response Wednesday, however, Thackeray asked Salian to desist from what his legal team described as distortion of his statements and the use of legal notices or media platforms to interfere with his right to defend his reputation. His reply has also asked Salian to withdraw the defamation notice, its allegations and demands within seven days.

The dispute now runs parallel to the CBI investigation into Disha Salian’s death, with Thackeray maintaining that questions surrounding the 2020 incident should be determined through an independent investigation rather than political allegations.