Mumbai, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has rejected a Rs 500-crore defamation notice issued by Satish Salian, father of late Disha Salian, calling the notice “frivolous” and categorically denying that he ever knew or met her.
In his reply through Supreme Court advocate Anshuman Sinha, Thackeray denied all allegations of defamation and refused to apologise, withdraw his social media posts or pay compensation. He reiterated that he has “never met or known Disha Salian”.
The legal dispute follows a notice issued by Satish Salian’s counsel, advocate Anushka Sonawane, on September 17, 2026. The notice alleged that English and Marathi posts published by Thackeray on X on September 16 contained defamatory narratives and sought Rs 500 crore in damages along with public apologies.
Thackeray’s reply maintained that his posts neither named nor identified Satish Salian. His legal team argued that a cause of action could not be created by subsequently inserting Salian’s name into general comments concerning what it described as a prolonged political and media campaign.
The Rs 500-crore compensation demand was described in the reply as “false, legally misconceived and arbitrary”, with no stated basis for the amount or identified financial loss.
Thackeray’s counsel also referred to earlier public statements and legal proceedings following Disha Salian’s death. The reply cited FIR C.R. No. 118 of 2022 registered at Malvani Police Station and a March 16, 2022 order of the Dindoshi Sessions Court, stating that the family had then attributed her suicide to financial depression under the influence of alcohol while alleging that political actors were spreading rumours and defaming the family.
The reply further referred to the Bombay High Court’s direction for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, while stating that the court had recorded no adverse findings against Thackeray or any other individual. It also noted the court’s direction that no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient grounds emerged from the evidence.
Defending his right to respond to allegations through social media, Thackeray rejected the demands for deletion of his posts, an apology, retraction or compensation. He also reiterated his call for an independent and fair CBI investigation without media trials or political distractions.
Thackeray’s counsel advised Satish Salian to withdraw the notice within seven days. The reply warned that any further civil or criminal proceedings based on what it termed fabricated interpretations would be contested in court, with Salian being put to costs and other legal consequences.
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