The death of Twisha Sharma, 33, at her matrimonial home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on the night of 12 May has deepened into a full-blown controversy, with her family alleging prolonged mental and physical abuse, dowry harassment, and deliberate attempts by the accused to compromise the investigation. Police have now acknowledged a procedural lapse in handling key evidence.

What the Police Have Admitted

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rajnish Kashyap of the Khara Hill area confirmed on Monday, 18 May that the object used in the hanging — a critical piece of forensic evidence — was seized from the crime scene on the day of the incident but was not submitted during the post-mortem examination. He said the investigating officer who visited the scene failed to produce it at that stage.

'We are currently investigating this lapse, and appropriate action will be taken based on the information that emerges,' ACP Kashyap said. The item has since been handed over to the Forensic Science Laboratory team and deposited at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal.

Key Developments in the Case

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on 14 May — two days after Twisha's body was discovered — against her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh under provisions related to dowry death and dowry harassment. No arrests have been made so far, a point that has drawn sharp criticism from the victim's family.

Twisha's family has further alleged that her body was removed from the scene and transported to a hospital without police being called first, potentially disturbing the crime scene. She was declared 'brought dead' upon arrival. ACP Kashyap confirmed this is a key point under active investigation. Police are currently retrieving footage from closed-circuit television cameras installed at the residence.

Questions Over Evidence Integrity

The four-to-five-day gap between the incident and the forensic examination of the hanging material has raised questions about possible evidence degradation. ACP Kashyap stated that all such concerns fall within the scope of the ongoing detailed inquiry and that 'appropriate clarifications are provided at that very stage.' Critics, however, argue that the delay — compounded by the failure to submit the item during post-mortem — could weaken any eventual prosecution.

Co-Accused's Claim Rejected for Now

Co-accused Giribala Singh has reportedly claimed that Twisha was a drug addict whose body would tremble without her dose. ACP Kashyap said the police have received no concrete evidence to substantiate this claim, though it will be investigated if it surfaces formally. The family has dismissed the allegation as an attempt to malign the victim.

What Happens Next

The forensic report from AIIMS Bhopal is awaited and is expected to clarify the condition and integrity of the key evidence. Police have assured that every aspect of the case will be thoroughly investigated and that action will follow the findings. The case has drawn wider attention to the pace of dowry-related investigations in Madhya Pradesh, where activists say procedural gaps routinely delay justice for victims' families.