Twisha Sharma death: Lookout notice against husband Samarth Singh, SIT formed
Synopsis
A Bhopal dowry death case has turned into a full-blown investigative crisis: the husband is absconding, a critical piece of evidence — the alleged hanging belt — was never shown to doctors during post-mortem, and the victim's family is refusing to accept her body. With a retired judge as the mother-in-law and a SIT now in the field, the Twisha Sharma case raises uncomfortable questions about evidence handling and institutional accountability.
Key Takeaways
A lookout notice has been issued against Samarth Singh , husband of Twisha Sharma , who remains at large.
A six-member SIT has been formed; a case is registered under dowry death and harassment provisions against Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh .
The preliminary AIIMS Bhopal post-mortem report noted multiple injury marks and two parallel ligature marks on Twisha's neck.
The alleged nylon belt from the crime scene was not produced before doctors during the post-mortem, creating a critical evidentiary gap.
Twisha's family has refused to accept her body and is demanding a second post-mortem and transfer of the case to Delhi .
Police have approached the Passport Office to revoke Samarth's passport to prevent him from fleeing abroad.
The death case of Twisha Sharma in Bhopal has escalated sharply, with police issuing a lookout notice against her husband Samarth Singh and constituting a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe what her family alleges is a suspicious death. Her father, Navnidhi Sharma, has refused to accept her body until a second post-mortem is conducted, openly accusing authorities of a possible conspiracy.
Manhunt for Samarth Singh
Multiple police teams are conducting searches across Madhya Pradesh and in other states to trace Samarth Singh, who remains at large. The lookout notice has been circulated to all airports and border checkpoints to prevent him from leaving the country. Police have also initiated proceedings with the Passport Office to get Samarth's passport revoked, suspecting he may attempt to flee abroad.
Misrod Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rajnish Kashyap confirmed that multiple teams have been mobilised. 'Multiple police teams have been mobilised for the search. The police are conducting search operations both within Madhya Pradesh and outside the state,' Kashyap said.
Post-Mortem Lapses and Evidentiary Gaps
A preliminary post-mortem report from AIIMS Bhopal noted the presence of multiple injury marks on Twisha's body. Critically, the investigating officer did not produce the belt allegedly used for hanging before the doctors during the examination, preventing a scientific comparison between the alleged hanging instrument and the ligature marks found on her neck.
Two parallel ligature marks on Twisha's neck have further complicated the probe. ACP Kashyap acknowledged the lapse, saying, 'Lapses are being examined and action will be taken based on the findings.' The alleged nylon belt, which police say was recovered from the crime scene, was seized but was not submitted during the post-mortem — a gap the family argues has damaged the evidentiary value of a critical piece of material evidence.
Family's Demands and Allegations
Twisha's father Navnidhi Sharma has alleged that the medical reports shown to the family do not match the ground evidence available, and that there are several solid proofs suggesting an attempt to mislead the investigation. He has raised concerns over delays in granting permission for a second post-mortem, alleging that after the Police Commissioner initially approved the request, the judiciary declined to intervene, citing jurisdictional limits — a back and forth he characterised as a deliberate tactic to allow the body to decompose and destroy crucial evidence.
Twisha's mother, Rekha Sharma, said the family had been running from one office to another for several days without relief. 'I am requesting the post-mortem examination again, and I also want our case to be transferred to Delhi as soon as possible. We are not able to get anything done here because there is no one to help us. For the past 5–6 days, we have been going around every day, but no hearing is taking place anywhere,' she said.
In-Laws' Counter-Claims
Giribala Singh, Samarth's mother and a retired judge, has strongly denied the dowry allegations. She questioned the claim of a ₹2 lakh demand, saying there is no transaction to support it, and alleged that she had transferred nearly ₹8 lakh to Twisha. Giribala also made statements about Twisha's mental health, claiming her daughter-in-law had repeatedly expressed unwillingness to continue with the pregnancy and had undergone counselling. She alleged that Twisha had admitted to consuming marijuana and was being treated for anxiety, though she clarified she is not a medical expert.
What Happens Next
A case has been registered against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh under provisions related to dowry death and harassment. The demand for a second post-mortem, the ongoing manhunt, and the unresolved evidentiary lapses are set to define the next phase of this investigation. The case has drawn significant public attention, with serious questions remaining about the circumstances of Twisha's death and the pace of the official probe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Twisha Sharma and what happened to her?
Twisha Sharma was a woman from Bhopal whose death has been classified as suspicious by her family, who allege dowry harassment and foul play. A preliminary post-mortem at AIIMS Bhopal found multiple injury marks and two parallel ligature marks on her neck, raising questions about the official account of her death.
Why has a lookout notice been issued against Samarth Singh?
Samarth Singh, Twisha's husband, is the main accused in the case and has been absconding since the case came to light. Police issued a lookout notice circulated to all airports and border checkpoints to prevent him from leaving India, and have also moved to get his passport revoked.
What is the controversy around the post-mortem examination?
The investigating officer did not produce the nylon belt — allegedly used for hanging and recovered from the crime scene — before doctors during the post-mortem at AIIMS Bhopal. This prevented a scientific comparison between the belt and the ligature marks on Twisha's neck, a gap the family says has damaged critical evidence.
Why is Twisha Sharma's family demanding a second post-mortem?
The family alleges that the medical reports shown to them do not match the physical evidence, and that procedural lapses — including the missing belt during the post-mortem — suggest an attempt to mislead the investigation. They have also alleged delays in granting permission for a second examination are allowing the body to decompose.
What has Giribala Singh, Samarth's mother, said about the case?
Giribala Singh, a retired judge, has denied the dowry allegations and disputed the claimed ₹2 lakh demand, saying there is no supporting transaction. She alleged she had transferred nearly ₹8 lakh to Twisha and made claims about Twisha's mental health and alleged substance use, though she clarified she is not a medical expert.
