A local court in Bhopal has rejected the plea seeking a second autopsy of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, whose death at her marital home earlier this month sparked allegations of dowry harassment and foul play. However, the court directed authorities to preserve her body properly for any future legal or forensic requirement.
Twisha Sharma, originally from Noida, was found hanging at her husband’s residence in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12. Following complaints by her family, police registered a case against her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, under sections related to dowry death, cruelty and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Twisha’s family had approached the court demanding a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi, alleging lapses in the initial investigation and claiming there were visible injury marks on her body before death. They also accused investigators of failing to preserve crucial evidence during the first autopsy.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Anudita Gupta rejected the request for a fresh autopsy, stating that the court lacked jurisdiction to order a second postmortem at a medical institution outside the state. However, the court partially allowed the family’s application by directing police to explore facilities capable of preserving the body at temperatures as low as minus 80 degrees Celsius.
According to police reports submitted before the court, AIIMS Bhopal currently stores the body at minus 4 degrees Celsius, while long-term preservation would require a much lower temperature facility that is not available in the city. Authorities have now been asked to identify suitable preservation facilities elsewhere in Madhya Pradesh or other metropolitan cities.
The case has attracted nationwide attention due to the involvement of a retired judicial officer and the serious allegations made by Twisha’s family. Her husband remains absconding, and police have announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has reportedly assured Twisha’s family that he would recommend a CBI probe into the matter amid mounting public pressure and questions over the handling of the investigation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed in the case is currently examining digital evidence, call records and CCTV footage as the probe into the alleged dowry death continues.
