Mumbai, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Aditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has dismissed a ₹500 crore defamation notice issued by Satish Salian, the father of the late Disha Salian. Thackeray referred to the notice as “petty” and denied any acquaintance with Salian.
Responding through his lawyer Anshuman Sinha in the Supreme Court, Thackeray categorically refuted all allegations of defamation. He declined to apologize or retract his social media posts, reiterating that he has never met Disha Salian.
The controversy began with a notice sent on September 17, 2026, by Salian’s lawyer, Advocate Anushka Sonawane. The notice claimed that Thackeray’s posts on social media platform X, published on September 16, contained defamatory remarks and demanded a public apology along with ₹500 crore in damages.
In his response, Thackeray clarified that he never mentioned Satish Salian by name or identified him in his posts. His legal team argued that general comments about a long-standing political and media campaign cannot form a legal basis for such claims. They labeled the ₹500 crore demand as “false, legally untenable, and arbitrary,” lacking any calculable basis or identified financial harm.
Thackeray’s response also highlighted inconsistencies in Salian’s current claims compared to public statements and legal documents made shortly after his daughter’s death. This included references to an FIR filed at Malvani police station and a March 16, 2022, order from the Dindoshi Sessions Court, which indicated that the family attributed Disha’s suicide to financial troubles exacerbated by alcohol use, while also accusing political parties of spreading rumors to defame them.
Thackeray pointed out that while the Bombay High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, no adverse conclusions have been recorded against him or anyone else. He emphasized that no individual should be considered an accused without sufficient evidence.
Defending his right to use social media to counter the allegations, Thackeray rejected demands to remove his posts, issue apologies, retract statements, or pay compensation. He reiterated his call for an independent and fair CBI investigation, free from media trials or political interference.
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