In a sharp rebuke that deepens Maharashtra's already combustible political atmosphere, NCP (Sp) working president Supriya Sule publicly stated on Monday that the possibility of vendetta-driven politics cannot be dismissed in the wake of the Central Bureau of Investigation naming Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray in the FIR connected to the Disha Salian death case.
The development comes as one of the most high-profile criminal-political cases in recent Indian history continues its slow but steady journey through the investigative process. The CBI, which took over the probe after the families of Disha Salian and her friend sought a change from the local Pune police investigation, filed an additional chargesheet that formally included Thackeray as an accused alongside several others.
Sule, speaking at a press interaction in Pune, questioned whether the timing and trajectory of the CBI's actions were motivated by factors beyond a straightforward criminal inquiry. She suggested that the targeting of Thackeray — scion of the influential Thackeray political dynasty and a senior figure in Maharashtra's ruling coalition — could reflect older political scores rather than purely judicial考量.
Aditya Thackeray has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that Disha Salian's death was a suicide and not the result of foul play. Her family, however, has contested this narrative vigorously, alleging harassment and pushing for a thorough investigation from the earliest days of the case in May 2024.
The Disha Salian case has drawn intense media scrutiny and polarised public opinion across Maharashtra. Political analysts note that any further developments risk inflaming tensions between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its rivals, particularly the NCP factions and the Congress-led opposition. Legal experts caution that the case could test the boundaries between credible investigation and political opportunism.
As the CBI prepares for the next stages of evidence collection and potential court proceedings, all eyes remain on how the judiciary will navigate a matter that sits uncomfortably at the intersection of law, politics, and public sentiment.
