CBI registers FIR, takes over Twisha Sharma death probe from Bhopal Police

In a major development in the high-profile Twisha Sharma death case, the Central Bureau of Investigation has formally registered an FIR after taking over the probe from Bhopal Police, a day after the Supreme Court intervened in the matter and called for a fair and independent investigation.

The FIR earlier registered at Katara Hills police station in Bhopal has now been re-registered by the CBI. A team from the central agency has already reached Bhopal and is expected to begin its investigation from Tuesday.

The case concerns the suspicious death of former model and actress Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging at her in-laws’ house in Bhopal on May 12.

SUPREME COURT TAKES SUO MOTU COGNISANCE

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the case during a hearing before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V M Pancholi.

The court appealed to the media not to air interviews of the accused while the investigation is underway.

“A young woman has lost her life. Whatever the reason may be, the truth must come out,” the court observed, adding that the matter required a “free, fair and thorough investigation”.

The bench also said preliminary allegations and the initial probe had indicated the possibility of a “criminal conspiracy angle”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the CBI was taking over the investigation. The Supreme Court recorded the submission and expressed hope that the agency would immediately begin the probe.

“We do not want media and public speculation,” the court said during the hearing.

The bench also said it sympathised with the family over the loss of their daughter. During the proceedings, the court was informed that remarks such as “a dead daughter is better than a divorced daughter” had allegedly been made in connection with the case.

QUESTIONS OVER INVESTIGATION

Twisha Sharma’s family has accused her husband Samarth Singh and her mother-in-law, former district judge Giribala Singh, of dowry harassment, tampering with evidence and influencing the investigation.

An FIR had already been registered against the two accused.

The case triggered controversy after questions were raised over the initial postmortem conducted in Bhopal under the supervision of the Madhya Pradesh government. Following orders from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a second postmortem was carried out by a four-member expert team from Delhi AIIMS.

Twisha’s last rites were performed 12 days after her death following the completion of the second autopsy process.

The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the manner in which investigations are conducted in such sensitive cases and said procedural irregularities in the present matter required closer scrutiny.

The CBI is now expected to examine all aspects of the case, including allegations of dowry harassment, possible destruction of evidence and the circumstances leading to Twisha Sharma’s death.