MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday erupted over the repeated references to his name in connection with the Disha Salian death case, accusing political opponents of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to tarnish his family's reputation.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Thackeray said there was no connection whatsoever between his family and the case, but expressed anguish that his name continued to be invoked in media discussions and political rhetoric. "My name is being used. Yours will also be used. Even Modi's and Trump's names could be dragged into this," he said, suggesting the exercise had gone beyond legitimate inquiry into outright character assassination.
Thackeray described the persistence in naming him as politically driven, asking, "Why is my name being pulled into this? This is being done with a political purpose. How much longer will we tolerate this? Enough character assassination has been done for no reason. If this continues, I will be forced to take legal action on my own, without consulting anyone."
The comments came as the Disha Salian case continues to dominate headlines and political discourse across Maharashtra. Disha Salian, a former assistant to Bollywood director Sajid Khan, was found dead in her Mumbai apartment in January 2025. Her death was initially ruled a suicide, but the investigation expanded after allegations surfaced that she had been subjected to sustained harassment and bullying at the hands of Khan and his inner circle.
In recent developments, Sajid Khan was formally charged by Mumbai police under sections relating to criminal conspiracy and abetment to suicide. The case has triggered widespread debate about power dynamics in the entertainment industry and the treatment of young professionals working under senior figures.
Thackeray's intervention adds a significant political dimension to an already sensitive case. As the chief of the Shiv Sena faction that remains a major force in Maharashtra politics, his accusation that the case is being weaponized for political purposes could intensify tensions between rival parties. Political analysts noted that the Thackeray family has historically maintained a careful distance from the film industry, making the repeated references to their name particularly contentious.
Legal experts said that while Thackeray's threat of legal action is notable, any defamation proceeding would need to establish that the references to his name were made with malicious intent and caused measurable harm to his reputation — a threshold that may prove challenging in a matter of such public interest.
