Investigation – Madhya Pradesh Moves to Hand Twisha Sharma Death Case to CBI
Investigation – The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated steps to hand over the investigation into the death of Noida resident Twisha Sharma to the Central Bureau of Investigation as scrutiny around the high-profile case continues to intensify in Bhopal.
The state government issued an official notification on Friday confirming its intention to transfer the matter to the CBI for further investigation. The order was released by Home Department Secretary Krishnaveni Desavatu. The move came shortly after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met Twisha Sharma’s father Navnidhi Sharma and her brother Harshit Sharma, who serves in the Indian Army, and assured the family of a recommendation for a central probe.
SIT Probe Continues Amid Expanding Investigation
At present, the case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Kashyap. Authorities had registered a case on May 15 at Katara Hills police station in Bhopal, three days after Twisha Sharma was found hanging inside her matrimonial home on the night of May 12.
Police booked her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, under charges linked to dowry death, harassment, and criminal conspiracy. Investigators have also invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
While Giribala Singh secured anticipatory bail from a Bhopal court, Samarth Singh has not yet been traced. He later approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur after his earlier anticipatory bail request was rejected by a lower court on May 18.
Government Seeks Cancellation of Anticipatory Bail
In another significant legal development, the Madhya Pradesh government has filed a petition before the High Court seeking cancellation of Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail. The state has also requested directions for her immediate arrest in connection with the case.
According to the government’s submission, the trial court committed a serious mistake by granting anticipatory bail without fully considering available evidence. Officials further claimed that there were attempts to interfere with the investigation process.
The petition alleged that selected CCTV footage from the residence had been circulated publicly after police had already seized material from the property. Investigators argued that the handling of the footage raised concerns regarding possible tampering with evidence related to the case.
Questions Raised Over Cooperation With Police
The state government also informed the High Court that Giribala Singh allegedly failed to cooperate with investigators despite receiving multiple notices between May 13 and May 21 for recording her statement.
In its filing, the government pointed out that Giribala Singh had served in the judiciary for more than three decades and was fully aware of legal procedures surrounding unnatural deaths. The petition stated that police authorities were not informed immediately after the incident, despite a police outpost being located close to the family’s residence in Katara Hills.
The government further argued that Twisha Sharma was taken directly to AIIMS Bhopal instead of notifying local police first, which may have affected the preservation of the crime scene and related evidence.
Family Demands Second Post-Mortem Examination
Meanwhile, Twisha Sharma’s family has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court requesting a second post-mortem examination. The family claimed there were serious shortcomings in the initial autopsy conducted at AIIMS Bhopal.
Their appeal before the High Court came after a lower court earlier rejected the request for a second post-mortem. Family members of the 33-year-old model-turned-actor have consistently alleged that sustained harassment by her in-laws pushed her toward death.
On the other hand, members of her husband’s family have denied the allegations and claimed that Twisha Sharma struggled with substance abuse issues.
Police Intensify Search for Samarth Singh
Police officials have announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to the arrest of Samarth Singh, who remains absconding since the incident surfaced. Authorities have also moved court seeking cancellation of his passport to prevent him from leaving the country.
The case has attracted widespread public attention due to the involvement of a retired judicial officer and growing demands from the victim’s family for an independent investigation. With the state now formally recommending a CBI inquiry, further legal proceedings are expected in the coming days.