A forensic report prepared more than a year before the latest CBI action had already raised questions about inconsistencies in the postmortem findings of Disha Salian, the former manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The report, prepared by forensic science professor Dr Bhoopesh Kumar Sharma and associate professor Megha Walia of SGT University, Gurugram, examined photographs of Salian along with her postmortem report. Among the issues flagged was the apparent absence of facial injuries despite the postmortem recording that her front teeth had fallen out.

The report, dated 3 April 2025, was commissioned by advocate Nilesh Ojha, who represents Salian's father, Satish Salian. The findings later formed part of the material presented before the Bombay High Court, which on 2 September 2026 ordered a CBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding her 2020 death.

Forensic Expert Examined Photographs and Postmortem Report

According to the report accessed by ThePrint, Sharma examined two digital photographs of Disha Salian alongside the available postmortem documentation.

The examination focused on visible injuries to the face. Sharma noted that the photographs showed no apparent injury or mark around the right eyebrow, eye orbit, forehead, nose and right cheek. He also recorded that there was no visible facial bleeding in either photograph.

Sharma told ThePrint that Ojha contacted him in March 2025 and that he prepared the assessment with Megha Walia before submitting it approximately a week later for use in the legal proceedings.

Broken Front Teeth Became a Key Question

One of the most significant observations in the report concerned the postmortem finding that Disha Salian's front teeth had fallen out.

Sharma questioned how isolated damage to the front teeth could be reconciled with the absence of other visible facial trauma in the photographs. His report argued that direct impact involving the mouth or jaw would ordinarily warrant examination for associated injuries such as cuts, bruising or swelling.

The expert therefore suggested that the circumstances surrounding the dental injuries required further forensic examination, including consideration of whether the damage occurred separately from the fall.

Importantly, the forensic report represented an expert opinion based on the photographs and documents made available to its authors. It does not by itself establish the cause or manner of death.

Questions Over the Recorded Facial Injuries

The report also drew attention to a description in the postmortem record concerning the condition of the face and the position of the eyes and mouth.

Sharma noted that the general description did not appear to correspond clearly with the injuries visible in the photographs. He also pointed to the absence of a specific description identifying the precise nature and location of the alleged facial injury.

These discrepancies, according to the report, warranted a fresh examination by qualified forensic specialists.

Unexplained Circumstances Around Clothing

Another issue highlighted in the forensic assessment concerned the postmortem record stating that the body was found nude.

Sharma said the circumstances surrounding the body's condition required investigation, including examination of the deceased's clothing, where it was found and its condition.

The issue later appeared in the Bombay High Court's consideration of the case. The court noted that police records separately documented the seizure and identification of Salian's clothes, while correspondence with the postmortem doctor questioned why the body had reached him without clothing. The court considered the discrepancy unexplained.

Bombay High Court Ordered CBI Investigation

The forensic report gained renewed relevance after the Bombay High Court examined the broader circumstances of the case.

On 2 September 2026, a bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale directed the CBI to investigate Disha Salian's death and register an FIR. The court criticised the prolonged police inquiry and said the investigation had raised more questions than it answered.

The court also directed that nobody should be treated as an accused unless the investigation produced suitable material against that person.

The order followed a petition filed by Salian's father, who had questioned the circumstances surrounding his daughter's death and sought a fresh investigation.

CBI Registers FIR

The CBI subsequently registered an FIR in September 2026 after recording Satish Salian's statement, formally beginning the investigation ordered by the High Court.

The agency's investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Salian's death as well as the issues raised during the court proceedings and in material submitted by her family.

Reports have also noted that the investigation will examine allegations made by Salian's father. Those allegations remain matters for investigation and should not be treated as established facts.

Why the Postmortem Questions Matter

The central issue is not simply whether individual injuries existed, but whether the medical findings, photographs, scene evidence and other investigative records are consistent with one another.

The 2025 forensic report specifically identified several areas requiring examination:

• The reported loss of the front teeth despite the absence of obvious facial injuries in the photographs.
• The lack of visible bleeding or significant facial trauma.
• The description of facial injuries in the postmortem record.
• The circumstances in which the body was recorded as being nude.
• The location, condition and evidentiary value of the deceased's clothing.
• Whether the available photographs and medical documentation adequately explain the injuries recorded after death.
• Whether additional forensic examination can resolve the discrepancies.

CBI Probe Brings Postmortem Findings Back Into Focus

The significance of Sharma and Walia's report is that several of the issues it raised in 2025 overlap with questions subsequently examined by the Bombay High Court.

However, the existence of a discrepancy does not by itself establish foul play or determine how Salian died. Those conclusions require examination of the complete forensic record, witness statements, scene evidence, medical evidence and other material gathered during the investigation.

The CBI has now taken up the case following the High Court's direction, providing an opportunity for those questions to be examined as part of a fresh investigation.

Key Highlights

• Dr Bhoopesh Kumar Sharma examined Disha Salian's photographs and postmortem report in March 2025.
• His report was prepared with SGT University colleague Megha Walia and dated 3 April 2025.
• The report questioned the apparent absence of facial injuries despite the reported loss of the front teeth.
• It also raised questions about the description of facial injuries in the postmortem record.
• The report called for closer examination of the deceased's clothing and the circumstances surrounding the body's condition.
• The Bombay High Court ordered a CBI investigation on 2 September 2026.
• The CBI subsequently registered an FIR and began its investigation.
• The High Court directed that individuals should not be treated as accused without suitable investigative material.
• The forensic report is an expert assessment of photographs and documents and is not, by itself, a final determination of the cause or manner of death.

Professional Disclaimer & Third-Party Reference

This article is based on publicly available reporting and court-related information, including reporting by ThePrint, Hindustan Times, Indian Express and legal-news publications concerning the Bombay High Court proceedings and CBI investigation. The forensic observations attributed to Dr Bhoopesh Kumar Sharma and Megha Walia are presented as reported expert opinions and should not be interpreted as independently established findings of the CBI or a court. Allegations made by individuals in the case remain subject to investigation and due process.

Conclusion

The 2025 forensic assessment has drawn renewed attention because several questions it identified overlap with issues later considered by the Bombay High Court. With the CBI now investigating Disha Salian's death, the consistency between the postmortem findings, photographs, clothing evidence and other forensic material will be among the matters requiring examination.