Disha Salian death case: CBI hands probe to officer Seema Pahuja

The case of the suspicious death of Disha Salian, former manager of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, is back in the headlines in the state. On the orders of the Bombay High Court, the CBI has formally registered an FIR and begun its investigation. The FIR mentions several big names, including former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray.

The biggest update in the case has now emerged. Seema Pahuja, a senior and sharp CBI officer known for solving several highly sensitive and high-profile cases across the country, has been appointed to oversee the investigation. Since the CBI registered the case, there had been strong speculation that such a high-profile matter would be handed to an experienced officer. With Seema Pahuja's name now confirmed, the investigation has gained momentum. The CBI's initial FIR does not name anyone as an accused.

Seema Pahuja is currently posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Special Crime Branch (SC-II) at CBI headquarters in Delhi. She has previously worked with the CBI's Chandigarh unit as well. Over her long and impartial career, she has cracked several complex criminal cases that shook the entire country. Seema Pahuja has also handled investigations into the Unnao rape case, the Hathras case, and the rape-murder case linked to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. She also played a key role in the investigation of Shimla's high-profile "Gudiya" rape-murder case, where her team was praised for using modern forensic techniques.

Seema Pahuja is known for her exceptional ability in crime investigation, sharp eye for detail, and precise use of modern forensic techniques. In 2021, she was honoured with the country's prestigious "Best Investigating Officer" gold medal for her outstanding investigative work.

More than six years have passed since Disha Salian's death. Because of this long gap, the biggest challenge before the investigating agency will be verifying the authenticity of old evidence, establishing the correct sequence of events, and catching inconsistencies in witness statements. The FIR contains a number of claims and allegations, but as per the Bombay High Court's clear directions, mere mention of something in an FIR cannot automatically make a person an accused. CBI officers say that as solid and scientific evidence emerges during the investigation, further legal action and decisions on arrests will be taken accordingly. The whole country is now watching to see which direction the CBI's investigation, led by SP Seema Pahuja, takes, and whether this years-old mystery is finally solved.