The development follows the Bombay High Court's directive on September 2, 2026, ordering the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to record the statement of Disha’s father, Satish Salian, and register an FIR to conduct a fresh investigation into her June 2020 death. Addressing the renewed media trials and social media speculation, Pancholi stated that he has never met Salian or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in his life, while challenging investigating agencies to probe the matter thoroughly.
"I Have Nothing to Hide": The Statement on Death Threats
Taking to his social media handles, Pancholi addressed the wave of hostility directed toward him:
“I am saying this one more time, and I have to repeat myself because clearly people still don't understand when I say this. I have never met late Disha Salian or Aditya Thackeray in my life. Not once. Not directly. Not indirectly!
And yet, the online abuse hasn't stopped. I have been called every possible name and have even received death threats, with people assuming that I must be scared. I am not scared. I have spent years watching my name being dragged into things I had absolutely nothing to do with. I have already lost years of my life, years I can never get back! And now, when I am finally trying to rebuild my life, my career and my future, I refuse to stay silent and watch it happen all over again. If I was scared, I would have stayed quiet like many others. But I am doing the exact opposite! Because I have clearly nothing to hide or run away from!”
Pointing Out Family Feuds & Seeking a Fair CBI Conclusion
Pancholi also highlighted that his name was being weaponized due to external hostility directed at his family:
The Family Angle: “It is clear to me that a lot of the hatred and attempts to drag my name into this are because of issues certain people have with members of my family. Whatever those issues may be, please do not make me pay for them. I have no personal issues with anybody. I have no political alliances, no political agenda and no interest in protecting or attacking anyone.”
Challenge to Investigating Agencies: “So I PLEASE request the investigating agencies for just one thing. Please investigate this matter thoroughly, completely and without any further delay. If there is even one small piece of evidence or any involvement connecting me to this matter, I am willing to face whatever punishment the law decides, without any questions. But if the investigation establishes that I genuinely have nothing to do with it, then I request the investigating agencies and the so-called 'HONEST MEDIA' to please say that loud and clearly.”
The Legal Backdrop: The 2026 High Court Order
The renewed scrutiny stems from legal developments earlier this month:
The Petition: Disha Salian, who briefly worked as a celebrity talent manager for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020 after falling from a high-rise building in Malad. While the Mumbai Police initially closed the case as an accidental death, her father, Satish Salian, moved the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh probe.
CBI Mandate: On September 2, 2026, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to register an FIR based on the father's statements. However, the court explicitly noted that the inclusion of names in a preliminary complaint or FIR does not equate to proven guilt or formal charges.
Industry & Legal Verdict:
Having previously endured a decade-long court trial in the Jiah Khan death case before being acquitted of all charges in April 2023, Sooraj Pancholi's immediate, aggressive public pushback marks a deliberate departure from his earlier silence. By calling out death threats and explicitly demanding that investigative agencies publish their conclusive findings without delay, the actor is aiming to prevent a repeat of protracted media trials as he seeks to rebuild his screen career.
