Twisha Sharma Death Case: Bhopal Court Rejects Second Postmortem Plea, Seeks Urgent Body Preservation Measures

In a significant development in the death case of Twisha Sharma, a Bhopal court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by her family seeking a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi.

However, while refusing the request, the court expressed serious concern over the preservation of Twisha’s body and directed authorities to urgently identify medical facilities across Madhya Pradesh capable of storing the body at extremely low temperatures to prevent decomposition.

The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class Anudita Gupta, who rejected the family’s application requesting “directions for conducting a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi and for forensic analysis of the deceased.”

Despite dismissing the plea, the court acknowledged the emotional and procedural concerns raised by the family regarding the handling of the case after Twisha was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal last week.

During the hearing, the court examined a police report which stated that Twisha’s body is presently being kept in the mortuary at AIIMS Bhopal at a temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius.

However, officials from AIIMS reportedly informed investigators that preserving the body properly for an extended period would require storage at around minus 80 degrees Celsius, a much lower temperature necessary to slow decomposition and maintain forensic integrity.

The magistrate noted with concern that, based on the information collected so far, no such ultra-low temperature preservation facility appears to be available anywhere in Bhopal.

Recognising the urgency of the matter, the court directed the Station House Officer of Katara Hills police station to immediately contact higher medical institutions across Madhya Pradesh and obtain written confirmation regarding the availability of advanced preservation facilities.

The court instructed that a detailed report be submitted without delay.

The case has sparked growing controversy and emotional outrage, with Twisha’s family openly questioning the circumstances surrounding her death as well as the findings of the first postmortem examination conducted at AIIMS Bhopal.

Her relatives have alleged that the autopsy process may have been influenced due to the social and professional standing of the accused family.

Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, who remains absconding, is a practising lawyer, while her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, is a retired additional district judge.

In their plea before the court, the family raised objections to the postmortem report, which listed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to antemortem hanging by ligature.”

At the same time, the report also recorded the presence of “multiple antemortem injuries,” described as simple injuries likely caused by blunt force trauma on different parts of the body.

The family argued that these findings raised several unanswered questions and warranted a fresh forensic examination by an independent institution.

The application also alleged serious lapses in the autopsy procedure. According to the family, the “ligature material” — reportedly a belt believed to have been used in the hanging — was never provided to the doctors conducting the postmortem examination at AIIMS Bhopal.

They claimed this omission could have affected the accuracy and completeness of the forensic analysis.

Meanwhile, during the proceedings, the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Misrod Division, informed the court that there was a strong possibility that Samarth Singh could attempt to flee the country.

Citing these concerns, police sought directions for informing the Regional Passport Office so that his passport could be cancelled or suspended and an alert could be issued against him.

The court, however, observed that such action could not be taken without first hearing the accused.

The magistrate subsequently directed that a notice be issued to Samarth Singh, asking him to explain why proceedings for suspension or cancellation of his passport should not be initiated.

The matter is expected to come up for further hearing as the investigation into Twisha Sharma’s death continues to intensify.