Special Correspondent
Mumbai: BJP MP and former Union Minister Narayan Rane has claimed that Uddhav Thackeray personally requested him twice not to mention Aditya Thackeray’s name in connection with the Disha Salian death case.
Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, allegedly fell from the 14th floor of a building in Malad. However, her father has filed a petition in court, alleging that she was murdered after being sexually assaulted.
Since the beginning, Narayan Rane and his son, Nitesh Rane, have accused Aditya Thackeray of being linked to the case.
Narayan Rane’s Claims
During a press conference, Rane said,
> “Uddhav Thackeray called me twice regarding this matter. The first time, I was on my way home in Juhu when I got a call from Milind Narvekar, saying that ‘Saheb’ wanted to speak to me. When I asked who, he said ‘Uddhavji’.”
Rane then detailed the conversation,
> “As soon as Uddhav Thackeray came on the call, I greeted him with ‘Jai Maharashtra, Saheb.’ He responded, ‘You still say Jai Maharashtra?’ I replied, ‘I will say it till my last breath.’
> He then requested, ‘You have children, I have children too. I kindly ask you not to mention Aditya’s name while speaking to th press.’”
Rane said he refused to comply, telling Thackeray,
> “Remember one thing, Uddhavji, I have never directly named anyone in this case. A young woman has been murdered, and the culprits must be arrested. There can be no compromise on that. You, however, are bringing up your son’s name yourself. You should tell him not to go to certain places in the evening.”
> “Dino Morea lives near my house, and I know what kind of parties take place there for hours in the evening. But I will not say anything more.”
According to Rane, Thackeray responded by saying he would talk to Aditya but again requested Rane’s cooperation.
Second Call from Uddhav Thackeray
Rane also mentioned a second phone call during the COVID-19 pandemic.
> “I had called Uddhav Thackeray to request permission for my hospital. He assured me that permission would be granted but again asked me to stop mentioning Aditya’s name in the press.”
> “I told him that I had never taken his name explicitly. I had only said that ‘a minister was present at the scene.’”
The allegations have once again stirred political controversy, as the Disha Salian case remains a subject of speculation. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court is set to hear Disha’s father’s plea on April 2, 2025.
