High Court clears second autopsy on Twisha Sharma, accepts family's plea
During the hearing, the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta submitted that conducting a second post-mortem examination would not compromise or tarnish anyone's image, emphasising that the move is aimed at ensuring complete transparency in the high-profile investigation.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered a second post-mortem examination of Twisha Sharma by AIIMS Delhi, accepting a plea by her family that had been rejected days earlier by a Bhopal court. Twisha, 31, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her parents have accused her husband, Samarth Singh, who has been on the run since her death, and her in-laws, of severely torturing her due to dowry demands.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta submitted that conducting a second post-mortem examination would not compromise or tarnish anyone's image, emphasising that the move is aimed at ensuring complete transparency in the high-profile investigation.
Addressing the court, the SG clarified that while the first post-mortem report is legally and procedurally sufficient for the investigating agency, a second autopsy would serve the larger public interest.
"We do not doubt the competence or correctness of AIIMS Bhopal," the SG stated, acknowledging the credibility of the initial medical evaluation. However, the SG maintained that allowing a second post-mortem would be the best course of action to address the family's concerns and ensure an unassailable investigation.
A 10-POINT ROUND-UP TO OF WHAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered AIIMS Delhi to conduct a second post-mortem on Twisha Sharma, accepting her family's plea just days after a Bhopal court had rejected the demand.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that conducting a second post-mortem examination would not compromise or tarnish anyone's image, emphasising that the move is aimed at ensuring complete transparency in the high-profile investigation.
The High Court also heard a plea filed by Twisha Sharma's father, Navnidhi Sharma, to cancel the anticipatory bail of Twisha's mother-in-law, Giribala Singh. Singh, a retired judge, received the legal safeguard in a lower court.
The court took note that the anticipatory bail was hastily granted to Giribala Singh after Mehta argued that the bail order would shake the conscience of the judiciary.
The case took a dramatic turn as Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, who has been on the run since May 12, decided to withdraw his bail plea. As per his lawyer, Samarth, a practising lawyer, has decided to surrender before the court.
Singh's lawyer sought a legal directive (Gag order) on the media coverage of the Twisha death case. He also said that a social media drama is being made to tarnish the image of his client.
The Madhya Pradesh government also provided its consent to transfer the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Another major demand that the family members of Twisha Sharma had placed before the Mohan Yadav-led government.
In line with the state government's decision, Sanjay Kumar, the Police Commissioner of Bhopal, who earlier said that Twisha died by suicide, stated, "We have issued three notices. Since they failed to cooperate, we have approached the High Court seeking the cancellation of their anticipatory bail. The Madhya Pradesh government has also recommended a CBI probe, and further action is underway. Statements of the individuals spotted in the CCTV footage have been recorded. We registered the FIR just two days later, which constitutes swift action. We are conducting our investigation, and there has been no delay on our part."
On May 12, Twisha was found hanging at her matrimonial home. The death triggered a massive controversy as her parents accused her husband and in-laws of mental torture over dowry demands.
The victims' parents also alleged that Twisha's husband, Samarth, a practising lawyer, and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, are using their legal influence to secure relief from court.