Twisha Sharma Death Case: Questions Mount Over Evidence Collection as CBI Examines Bhopal Police Investigation

Fresh details emerging from the investigation into the death of model Twisha Sharma have raised serious questions about the manner in which crucial evidence was collected and preserved by the Madhya Pradesh Police.

As the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe into the high-profile case, scrutiny is intensifying over potential lapses in the initial investigation conducted by local authorities.

Investigators examining the case have stated that evidence was recovered from the residence of retired judge Giribala Singh within hours of the information regarding Twisha’s death being communicated to the Bhopal Police during the early hours of May 13.

However, a close examination of official seizure records suggests a more complex timeline, revealing that several key pieces of evidence were not formally recovered until much later.

According to the available documents, one of the most important exhibits in the case—the ligature material allegedly used by Twisha to take her own life—was seized nearly ten hours after police were first alerted to the incident.

The same recovery operation also included the seizure of Twisha’s mobile phone and laptop, both of which are considered vital for understanding the circumstances leading up to her death.

Further concerns have emerged regarding a pair of headphones seen in CCTV footage that allegedly captured Twisha during her final moments.

Despite being visible in the footage, the headphones were reportedly recovered only ten days later, prompting questions about how thoroughly the crime scene was examined during the initial stages of the investigation.

The CBI, which assumed responsibility for the case following allegations of investigative shortcomings, is expected to question several Madhya Pradesh Police officers regarding their handling of the evidence.

The federal agency took over the probe after Twisha’s family accused officers from Katara Hills police station of conducting an inadequate investigation and failing to follow established forensic procedures.

A major point of contention raised by the family relates to the alleged failure of investigators to produce the ligature material during the post-mortem examination.

Twisha’s relatives have argued that the absence of such a critical piece of evidence at that stage cast doubt on the integrity of the investigation from the outset.

Ankur Pandey, legal counsel representing Twisha’s family, has repeatedly alleged that the police failed to properly secure the scene where the death occurred.

According to him, leaving the premises accessible to individuals named in the investigation created the possibility that crucial evidence could have been altered, removed, or tampered with before it was formally documented.

The legal representatives of the accused, however, have strongly denied these allegations and maintained that no evidence was manipulated or mishandled by their clients.

Official records show that Bhopal Police received information about Twisha’s death at approximately 12.05 am on May 13 from AIIMS Bhopal.

Authorities stated that the call came nearly two hours after she was allegedly found hanging on the terrace of her matrimonial home.

Police have maintained that they promptly visited the location, conducted an inspection, prepared a site plan, and called in a forensic science team to examine the scene.

Despite these claims, seizure records indicate that the first documented recovery of evidence did not take place until 9.42 am on May 13.

According to the seizure memo, investigators recovered three items from beneath a shed located on the terrace of the residence.

Among the items listed was the alleged ligature material. The document describes it as a black strap or belt approximately one inch wide and around 99 inches in length.

A second component, identified as a tyre strap measuring roughly 51 inches, was reportedly found wrapped around a circular wheel. Investigators recorded that these materials were believed to have been used in the alleged hanging.

During the same operation, police also seized a silver-coloured HP laptop and a red iPhone belonging to Twisha.

Both electronic devices were reportedly locked at the time they were taken into custody. Investigators considered them significant because they could potentially contain communications, personal records, or other digital evidence relevant to the case.

The seizure memo notes that all of these items were recovered directly from the scene. The recovery process was witnessed by police personnel as well as an independent resident of Katara Hills, whose signature was included in the documentation.

Records further reveal that investigators made multiple visits to the residence throughout the day, collecting additional evidence at different intervals.

At approximately 3.30 pm on May 13, a second mobile phone, identified as a Samsung Galaxy device, was seized after being produced by Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh. The recovery was reportedly carried out in the presence of two independent witnesses.

Just over an hour later, at around 4.40 pm, investigators returned to collect another set of materials from Samarth Singh. These included several documents and items that police believed could assist in reconstructing the events preceding Twisha’s death.

Among the materials recovered were a number of medical records and health-related documents linked to Twisha. Investigators have not publicly disclosed the contents of these records but included them among the evidence gathered during the inquiry.

Later that evening, at approximately 6.40 pm, police seized the digital video recorder (DVR) connected to the home’s CCTV surveillance system. According to official records, the DVR was handed over by Twisha’s mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh.

The CCTV footage subsequently became a subject of public controversy after portions of the recordings surfaced online.

The videos reportedly showed family members bringing Twisha’s body down a staircase after attempts to revive her through CPR allegedly proved unsuccessful.

The circulation of the footage triggered competing claims regarding who was responsible for making the recordings public.

While critics accused those associated with the family of leaking the videos, Giribala Singh’s legal team categorically denied any involvement in the dissemination of the footage.

The handling of the CCTV recordings further fuelled allegations that police had failed to adequately secure the scene and preserve sensitive evidence, allowing material from the investigation to enter the public domain.

On May 15, two days after the incident, police formally registered an FIR against Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh, significantly altering the course of the investigation.

More than a week later, on the evening of May 23, investigators conducted another round of seizures at the Katara Hills residence. Records indicate that additional items were recovered as the probe expanded.

Among the articles seized was a Samsung mobile phone associated with two numbers but reportedly lacking a SIM card. Investigators also recovered a pair of black Sony headphones.

According to the seizure memo, these headphones were believed to be the same pair Twisha was wearing when she allegedly went to the terrace shortly before her death. Their delayed recovery has become one of the central issues now being examined by investigators.

Sunil Dubey, the Station House Officer of Katara Hills police station and a member of the Special Investigation Team that initially handled the case, has stated that he has not yet been questioned by the CBI regarding the investigation.

Responding to questions about why the seizure documents did not specify who first identified the alleged ligature material, Dubey explained that the forensic science team discovered the item during its inspection of the premises.

He maintained that the scene had been secured immediately after police received information from AIIMS Bhopal.

Addressing concerns about the delayed recovery of the headphones, Dubey said the item was not detected during the videography of the scene.

However, he insisted that the later seizure of the headphones does not weaken the overall case or compromise the investigation.

As the CBI continues to re-examine the evidence and the sequence of investigative actions taken by local authorities, the Twisha Sharma case remains under intense public scrutiny.

The agency’s findings are expected to play a crucial role in determining whether procedural lapses occurred and whether the original investigation met the standards required in a case of such significance.