Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav promised a Central Bureau of Investigation probe after meeting the parents of Twisha Sharma on Wednesday [3].
The case has drawn significant attention due to allegations of dowry-related violence and the family's claims that local authorities mishandled the initial investigation.
Sharma, a 33-year-old woman from Noida [1], was found dead by hanging at her marital home in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on May 12, 2026 [1]. Her parents have alleged that the death was not a simple suicide and cited pressure from officials to cremate the body immediately following the first autopsy [2].
During the meeting on May 20, 2026 [3], the chief minister assured the family that the state government would seek a federal investigation to ensure transparency. "We will ensure a CBI investigation into the case," Yadav said [2].
Questions regarding the cause of death remain a point of contention. The forensic team at AIIMS Bhopal said that the post-mortem confirmed death by hanging and ruled out drug involvement [1]. This contradicts claims made by Sharma's mother-in-law, who suggested drug addiction was a factor in the death [1].
While the family requested a second post-mortem examination at AIIMS Delhi to verify the findings, a Bhopal court later rejected the plea [5]. Earlier in the day, the chief minister said that the decision on a second post-mortem would be taken by the court [3].
Family members have expressed distrust in the initial findings, citing multiple injuries reported in the first autopsy [1]. They maintain that a second examination by a different medical team is necessary to determine if the injuries were sustained before death.
“"We will ensure a CBI investigation into the case,"”
The transition of the investigation to the CBI suggests a lack of confidence in local police handling of high-profile dowry death cases. The court's refusal to grant a second autopsy, despite the Chief Minister's openness to the request, creates a legal deadlock that may force the family to seek higher judicial intervention to challenge the initial forensic report from AIIMS Bhopal.
