The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second postmortem of Twisha Sharma’s body following a petition from her family [2].
The ruling marks a critical turn in the investigation into Sharma's death, as her family alleges the initial probe may have been compromised by evidence tampering. The case highlights ongoing struggles regarding dowry harassment and the transparency of forensic investigations in domestic death cases.
Sharma was found dead on May 12, 2024 [1] in the Katara Hills neighbourhood of Bhopal [4]. Her family has alleged that she was subjected to dowry harassment prior to her death [3]. Following these allegations, the family approached the court to request a second autopsy to ensure an unbiased determination of the cause of death [2].
The High Court approved the request for a second autopsy, which will be conducted by a team from AIIMS Delhi [3]. This specialized team is expected to provide a more rigorous examination to address the concerns of evidence tampering raised by the victim's relatives [3].
In a related legal development, Sharma's husband, Samarth Singh, withdrew his pre-arrest bail plea [1]. The withdrawal comes as the legal pressure mounts following the court's decision to allow the second forensic examination [2].
Singh's decision to withdraw the plea leaves him with few legal options to avoid custody while the investigation continues [1]. The case also involves allegations against Sharma's mother-in-law regarding the harassment [3].
Authorities in Bhopal are now coordinating the logistics for the AIIMS Delhi team to perform the procedure. The results of the second autopsy are expected to be pivotal in determining whether the case will proceed as a murder investigation or a different criminal charge [3].
“The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second postmortem of Twisha Sharma’s body”
The court's decision to allow a second autopsy by AIIMS Delhi indicates a lack of confidence in the initial forensic findings and suggests a high threshold of suspicion regarding evidence tampering. By withdrawing his bail plea, the husband's legal position has weakened, shifting the momentum of the case toward a more aggressive criminal prosecution if the second autopsy confirms foul play or harassment.
