Twisha Sharma death: MP High Court orders AIIMS Delhi second autopsy
Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered AIIMS Delhi to conduct a second autopsy in the Twisha Sharma alleged dowry death case — a direct rebuke to an initial investigation the family says was riddled with lapses, including a three-day delay in filing the FIR and a disputed height measurement in the post-mortem report. A retired judge is among the accused.
Key Takeaways
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 22 May ordered a second post-mortem in the Twisha Sharma alleged dowry death case.
AIIMS Delhi doctors will conduct the fresh autopsy; state authorities must preserve all forensic evidence.
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws' home in Bhopal on 12 May ; the FIR was registered three days later.
Retired judge Giribala Singh , Twisha's mother-in-law, is among those named in the FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act .
The Madhya Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe; transfer formalities are underway.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday, 22 May ordered a second post-mortem examination in the alleged dowry death case of Twisha Sharma, directing a team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi to conduct the fresh autopsy. The order came while hearing a petition filed by Sharma's family, who had challenged a lower court's refusal to permit a second examination.
What the High Court Ordered
The court directed state authorities to preserve all medical and forensic evidence and extend full cooperation to the AIIMS Delhi team. It also instructed that all case records — including the first post-mortem report and investigation documents — be handed over to the medical experts. The court observed that an independent examination was necessary given the seriousness of the allegations and the concerns raised by the victim's family.
Irregularities Alleged by the Family
In their petition, Twisha's family alleged significant lapses in the initial investigation. According to their counsel, the FIR was registered three days after her death on 12 May, despite repeated demands for immediate police action. The family also alleged that the material reportedly used for hanging was not provided to doctors during the first post-mortem. A further discrepancy cited before the court was an alleged mismatch between Twisha's height as recorded in the post-mortem report and the measurements noted by police investigators.
Background: The Death and the FIR
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws' residence in Bag Mugalia Extension, under the Katara Hills police station area in Bhopal, on 12 May. The case has drawn widespread attention following allegations of dowry harassment against her in-laws. Retired judge Giribala Singh, Twisha's mother-in-law, is among those named in the FIR registered at Katara Hills police station. The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
CBI Probe on the Horizon
The Madhya Pradesh government has already recommended a CBI probe into the matter, and procedural formalities for the transfer of the case are reportedly underway. The High Court's order for an independent second autopsy adds a further layer of scrutiny to an investigation that critics argue has been marred by procedural failures from the outset.
What Happens Next
The AIIMS Delhi team is now expected to conduct the second post-mortem under court supervision, with all forensic evidence preserved by state authorities. The findings of the independent examination are likely to be central to any future trial proceedings. The case is being closely watched as a test of institutional accountability in dowry-related deaths involving individuals with judicial and official connections.
Point of View
A delayed FIR, and forensic inconsistencies that surface only after sustained legal pressure. The fact that a retired judge is among the accused raises the stakes considerably — it tests whether institutional deference shapes how law enforcement handles cases where the accused carries judicial credentials. A CBI transfer and an AIIMS-led second autopsy are necessary correctives, but they also underscore how much of the investigative process had already gone wrong before judicial oversight was sought.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the MP High Court order a second autopsy in the Twisha Sharma case?
The court ordered a second post-mortem after Twisha Sharma's family petitioned against a lower court's refusal to allow one, citing procedural lapses in the first autopsy — including the alleged non-provision of the material used for hanging to doctors, and a reported mismatch between her height in the post-mortem report and police measurements.
Who was Twisha Sharma and how did she die?
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws' residence in Bag Mugalia Extension, Bhopal, on 12 May. Her death is being investigated as an alleged dowry death, with her family accusing her in-laws of harassment.
Who is Giribala Singh and what is her connection to the case?
Giribala Singh is a retired judge and Twisha Sharma's mother-in-law. She is among those named in the FIR registered at Katara Hills police station in Bhopal under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Will the CBI investigate the Twisha Sharma case?
The Madhya Pradesh government has already recommended a CBI probe into the matter, and procedural formalities for the transfer of the case are reportedly underway.
What irregularities were alleged in the initial investigation?
The family alleged that the FIR was registered three days after Twisha's death despite repeated demands for immediate action, that the material allegedly used for hanging was withheld from doctors during the first autopsy, and that there was a discrepancy between her height in the post-mortem report and police records.
