Sooraj Pancholi Says He Has Received Death Threats Over Disha Salian Case, Calls for Thorough Investigation

Sooraj Pancholi speaks out after his name surfaces in Disha Salian investigation

Actor Sooraj Pancholi has publicly addressed the renewed controversy surrounding the death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian, saying that he has faced online abuse and death threats after his name became part of the ongoing investigation.

In a statement shared on social media on September 24, Pancholi again maintained that he had never met Disha Salian or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. He also called for the investigating agencies to examine the case thoroughly and said he was prepared to face the consequences if evidence established any involvement on his part.

The development comes against the backdrop of a fresh investigation into Salian's June 2020 death following directions from the Bombay High Court.

What did Sooraj Pancholi say?

Pancholi's latest statement focuses primarily on his denial of any personal connection with Salian.

According to his social-media statement, the actor said that despite repeatedly stating that he had never met her, his name continued to be associated with the case. He claimed that the resulting online abuse had escalated to death threats.

He also said he was attempting to rebuild his life and career after years of controversy and did not want to remain silent while his name continued to be linked to allegations he says have no connection to him.

Pancholi further requested that investigators conduct a complete examination of the case. Importantly, his statements are his own claims and position; they do not establish what investigators will ultimately find.

Why is Pancholi's name being discussed in the case?

The Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR after the Bombay High Court directed a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salian's death.

Multiple reports on the FIR state that Pancholi is among several individuals whose roles are to be examined during the investigation. However, this distinction is important: being mentioned in an FIR or having one's role investigated does not by itself establish guilt or mean that a person has been found to be an accused. The Times of India reported that the CBI FIR mentions several people whose roles require investigation and that no one had been named as an accused at that stage.

The Bombay High Court itself had specifically clarified when ordering the CBI probe that no individual should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the investigation.

What did the Bombay High Court order?

On September 2, 2026, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding Disha Salian's death and register an FIR.

The court also directed that Salian's father, Satish Salian, give his statement to the investigating agency and that relevant case records be transferred to the CBI. The court's order did not itself establish criminal responsibility against any individual.

The fresh investigation follows years of public discussion surrounding Salian's death. She died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area. She had worked as a celebrity manager, including a period associated with late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whose death occurred six days later.

What is the status of the investigation?

The CBI's investigation is ongoing.

The FIR reportedly invokes provisions relating to serious alleged offences, but those allegations are part of the investigation and should not be treated as findings of guilt. The agency is expected to examine the available evidence and determine whether criminal offences can be established and whether any individual's involvement can be supported by evidence.

That distinction is particularly important in Pancholi's case because the actor has publicly denied ever meeting Salian.

His latest statement also asks investigators to establish the facts rather than allowing speculation and online commentary to determine the narrative.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The most significant part of Sooraj Pancholi's latest statement is not simply his denial of a connection to Disha Salian. It is his demand for a clear distinction between being mentioned in an investigation and being established as responsible for an offence.

The Bombay High Court's September 2 direction makes that distinction equally important. The court ordered a fresh investigation but expressly stated that individuals should not be treated as accused without sufficient material emerging during the probe.

For Pancholi, the issue has also become a personal matter because he says the public discussion has resulted in online abuse and death threats. Those claims should be treated as his account unless independently established.

The CBI investigation will ultimately have to separate documented evidence from speculation and determine what, if anything, can be established against the individuals whose roles are being examined.

For The Celebrity Hour, the responsible approach is to report the developments while keeping that distinction clear: an allegation or investigative reference is not the same as a finding of guilt.

Sources & Verification

This report was independently researched using the supplied Indian Express report as the initial lead and cross-checked against current coverage of Sooraj Pancholi's statement, the CBI FIR and the Bombay High Court's September 2 order concerning the Disha Salian investigation. The court's position regarding the distinction between an investigation and a finding of guilt was also cross-checked across legal and mainstream news coverage.

The Celebrity Hour has treated Pancholi's statements as attributed claims and has not presented allegations surrounding the wider case as established facts.