top of page

By:

Correspondent

21 August 2024 at 3:50:16 pm

Truth Delayed

The Bombay High Court’s decision to hand the Disha Salian death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a welcome, though long overdue move. For six years, the death of the 28-year-old celebrity manager has remained trapped between an official narrative and a cloud of unanswered questions. Salian fell from the 14th floor of a Mumbai building on June 8, 2020. Six days later, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whom she had managed, was found dead. The coincidence has since fuelled...

Truth Delayed

The Bombay High Court’s decision to hand the Disha Salian death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a welcome, though long overdue move. For six years, the death of the 28-year-old celebrity manager has remained trapped between an official narrative and a cloud of unanswered questions. Salian fell from the 14th floor of a Mumbai building on June 8, 2020. Six days later, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whom she had managed, was found dead. The coincidence has since fuelled enormous public speculation. The disturbing question is why it took so long for the machinery of justice to seriously address the allegations made by Salian’s own father. Satish Salian has alleged that his daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered and has sought an FIR naming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and others. The Mumbai Police and state authorities had maintained that there was no foul play. When a bereaved parent continues to raise serious questions about the circumstances of a child’s death, the answer cannot simply be bureaucratic closure. The High Court has now opened the case to an independent investigation. The CBI has been directed to register an FIR and investigate all aspects of the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death. The court has also made clear that nobody should be treated as an accused unless the investigation establishes a reasonable basis for doing so. There should be no political protection racket in the name of preserving reputations. If the allegations of murder and sexual assault are false, the investigation should establish that conclusively. If they are true, those responsible must face the law. And that includes the powerful and well-connected. Too many cases where involving influence, political connections or proximity to power have created a justified suspicion that ordinary rules do not apply to extraordinary people. It is time that corrosive public perception changed. The significance of the High Court’s order lies in restoring a credible search for answers – something that has not been in evidence in the last six years. When allegations of foul play are made by the family and an FIR is not registered, questions about the adequacy of the original investigation are inevitable. The court has now ensured that those questions are examined rather than allowed to gather dust. The CBI must now go beyond the competing narratives that have surrounded the case since 2020. Its job is to establish, through evidence, what happened that night, whether the circumstances of Salian’s death were properly investigated in the first place, and whether there is any basis for the serious allegations made by her father. After six years, the Salian family deserves more than competing versions of events. It deserves the truth. So does the public.

Bad Roads, Ugly Politics


The pathetic state of roads in Mumbai city as well as its suburbs has made daily commute a dangerous affair. The residents are miffed with the BMC over its lackadaisical attitude. Mumbaikars tweet photos, post videos to grab attention, but everything is in vain. Who cares for the common people. Backbreaking journeys have become part and parcel of life. Political leaders are busy mud-slinging.


This year the monsoon took a break after almost four and half months. During this time some of the roads virtually became non commutable. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde first announced to make Mumbai roads pothole free.


Its almost two years now the BMC has concretised only 9 percent of roads it planned to concretise. This decision was taken when it came to light that due to the properties of bitumen in asphalt roads, potholes are a regular occurrence due to contact with water during monsoons.


Hence, to solve the problem of potholes, the corporation has adopted a policy of cement concreting of 6-meter-wide roads in phases. The decision was taken but the dilly-dallying affair made things more difficult.


Mumbai’s traffic does put a lot of strain on roads which is not the case in the other developed countries. Second most important aspect is concretisation of roads is done partly and in phases.


The worst problem which is faced is repeated digging for cables and drainage, which weakens the roads. Above all corruption in BMC makes matters worse as a result everything comes to grinding halt.


According to experts, repairing potholes is a reaction with symptomatic treatment. By and large we are dispensing superficial treatment without addressing the root cause. The long-term solution will be to have roads with no potholes but what we need is the means and technology to achieve this. But for this political will is necessary which we lack on every step.


Mumbaikar’s are convience that corruption in the municipal corporation is the main reason. Contractors have had a monopoly over the last 20 years and this is the reason why reputed companies never come ahead for these projects.


As a result, in the name of attendance and repair, the BMC does shoddy work. Crores are spent but the end result is nothing. The BMC is not paying attention to the crust. If the crust is weak, potholes will see an increase. Without any thought or technical know-how, potholes are filled with cold mix.


This is the reason why the city and suburbs continue to have craters on the roads.


Craters, a serious threat to the safety and security of people. Mumbaikars fade up from their repeated visits to orthopedic surgeons.


They are in a mood to teach a proper lesson to those who were at the helm of the affairs.

Comments

bottom of page