The deaths of Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020 have continued to be discussed together. Salian, who had worked as Rajput’s manager, died in Mumbai on 8 June, six days before the actor’s death.
Six years later, Salian’s case is back in focus after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe.
The officer now supervising the investigation is Seema Pahuja. She was also part of the CBI team that investigated the 2024 RG Kar rape and murder case in Kolkata.
So, who is Pahuja, and what has her career in the CBI looked like?
Who Is Seema Pahuja?
Pahuja is a senior CBI officer who is currently posted as Superintendent of Police in the Special Crime Unit at the CBI headquarters in Delhi.
Her career has largely involved complex criminal investigations, particularly cases where investigators have had to piece together forensic, witness and documentary evidence.
She has worked with the agency for decades. A 2025 court record shows that she was posted as an Inspector in the CBI's Special Crime-I Branch as early as 2006. Reports from her later career place her at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and subsequently Additional Superintendent of Police before her current SP posting.
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From Gudiya To RG Kar
Seema Pahuja has been part of CBI teams investigating several high-profile criminal cases.
In 2017, she was associated with the CBI investigation into the death and alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl in Kotkhai, Himachal Pradesh, a case commonly known as the Gudiya case. The CBI later filed a chargesheet, and a court convicted a woodcutter in 2021.
Pahuja was also part of the CBI team that investigated the 2020 Hathras case in Uttar Pradesh. The agency took over the investigation after the death of a 19-year-old woman, who had alleged sexual assault.
She was subsequently associated with the CBI investigation into the 2017 Unnao rape case.
In 2024, Pahuja joined the CBI team investigating the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. She was among the officers involved in the investigation, which ultimately led to the conviction of Sanjay Roy in January 2025.
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Her Awards And Recognition
Pahuja has received recognition for her investigative work.
Reports state that she received two gold medals for outstanding investigation between 2007 and 2018. In 2021, she was also reported to have received the CBI's gold medal for Best Investigating Officer.
A separate 2021 government award listing also records Seema Pahuja, DySP, CBI, ACB Chandigarh, among recipients of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
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What Is She Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Pahuja is posted as an SP in the CBI’s Special Crime Unit in Delhi. She has been assigned to supervise the investigation into Disha Salian’s death, with Deputy SP Puran Kumar among the officers assisting the probe.
The CBI registered an FIR on 13 September after recording a statement from Salian’s father, Satish Salian. Reports on the FIR have identified several names, including Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi.
However, being mentioned in an FIR or a complainant’s statement does not by itself make someone an accused or establish their involvement in an offence. The Bombay High Court specifically directed that nobody should be treated as an accused unless the investigation produces sufficient material to raise reasonable suspicion.
The CBI will now examine the allegations, statements and other evidence before determining what, if any, offences or individual involvement are established.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Seema Pahuja?
She is a senior CBI officer currently posted as an SP in the agency’s Special Crime Unit in Delhi.
Why is she in the news?
She has been assigned to supervise the CBI investigation into Disha Salian’s 2020 death.
Which major cases has she worked on?
She has been associated with CBI investigations including the Gudiya case in Himachal Pradesh, the Hathras case, the Unnao case and the 2024 RG Kar case.
What is known about her recognition?
Media reports have credited Pahuja with receiving medals for investigative work, including a CBI award for Best Investigating Officer. These claims should be attributed to reports unless supported by an official record.
What is happening in the Disha Salian case now?
The Bombay High Court ordered a CBI investigation on 2 September 2026. The CBI subsequently registered an FIR and began investigating the circumstances surrounding Salian’s death. The court has directed that nobody be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the investigation.
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