Dowry case: Twisha Sharma cremated in Bhopal 12 days after her death and second post-mortem

The last rites of Twisha Sharma were performed in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, hours after an expert committee of AIIMS New Delhi conducted a second post-mortem on the body, 12 days after she was found dead at her matrimonial home here.

Dozens of ex-servicemen, family and relatives and locals turned out to pay their respects at Bhopal’s Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat with her brother Major Harshit Sharma conducting rituals on Sunday evening even as her mother looked inconsolable.

While her husband Samarth Singh, a lawyer, is currently in police custody in connection with the death and dowry harassment case, her mother-in-law Giribala Singh, a retired judge and an accused in the case, was not seen at the cremation ceremony. Mr. Singh was captured on May 22 after his attempt to surrender before a court in Jabalpur failed. He is currently being interrogated by the police.

Twisha Sharma’s father Navnidhi Sharma expressed gratitude at the Supreme Court, which registered the suo motu case amid her family’s allegations that her in-laws tampered with evidence and that the investigation suffered from procedural irregularities.

‘The case will be an example’

Mr. Navnidhi Sharma paid a heartfelt tribute, “We don’t know how we will live without her. As children grow up, they take care of their parents. They become parents and parents become children. She used to take care of her children like a mother.”

“I thank everyone for their support and I believe he will get justice. This case will be an example to all and people’s faith in the judicial process will be restored. I thank the Supreme Court for taking suo motu cognizance of the matter,” he said at the prayer meeting.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Bhopal police, probing the case, along with a four-member panel of AIIMS New Delhi and forensic experts, visited Ms. Singh’s house to inspect the scene of Twisha Sharma’s death and collect evidence.

This is the first official inspection of the crime scene, which comes a day after a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi took cognizance of the case.

The police are yet to interrogate Ms Singh even though an FIR in the case was lodged early on May 15 morning.

Twisha Sharma’s family has consistently alleged procedural errors, institutional bias and tampering with evidence, while accusing Ms Singh of using her influence and talking to more than 40 senior government and judicial officials to undermine the investigation.

Lawyers for the victim’s family also questioned the continued occupation of the house where Twisha Sharma died by her in-laws, alleging destruction of evidence as well as placing contraband in the victim’s belongings. After her death, Ms. Singh publicly claimed that Twisha Sharma had a drug addiction.

The family also raised doubts about the first autopsy conducted by doctors at AIIMS Bhopal, where Ms. Singh’s sister is a senior doctor, and stuck to their demand for a second impartial examination, which was allowed by the Madhya Pradesh high court on May 22.

Major Harshit Sharma said identifying the body proved difficult as it had been in the mortuary for more than 10 days.

“It was a bit difficult considering it was done after 10 days. There were also some changes on the body. Also, since the first autopsy had already been done on the body, it became a bit more difficult. But it was identified by birthmarks and other signs,” he said.

The report of the second autopsy, which was conducted after the AIIMS New Delhi team reached Bhopal, is awaited.

Confiscation of things

Speaking to The Hindu, Vikas Sehwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhopal Zone 2, said the items were seized based on information obtained from the interrogation of Mr. Singh.

When asked when Ms Singh would be questioned, he said the investigation team was involved in the post-mortem and burial along with the crime scene.

“So far, the statements of several people involved in the case have been recorded, including the victim’s family members and doctors. The team is also going to Jabalpur on Monday for a hearing in the High Court. We will hear it very soon,” he said.

The High Court had earlier asked Ms Singh, who is currently out on bail, to appear before it on May 25.

Published – 24 May 2026 15:56 IST