The father and brother of dowry death victim Twisha Sharma on Tuesday, 30 June publicly accused the Bhopal Police of issuing contradictory accounts about a reported burglary at the victim's in-laws' residence, alleging that officers are acting on outside orders rather than pursuing an impartial investigation. The family's allegations come a day after a Bhopal court declined to entertain an oral plea by the defence seeking permission for retired judge and accused Giribala Singh to visit her home in connection with the same burglary.

The Burglary That Raised Questions

Twisha's brother Harshit Sharma questioned the credibility of the reported theft, noting that the break-in allegedly involved not just jewellery but also documents — yet family members sleeping on the ground floor reportedly heard nothing, even as metal almirahs and metal lockers were said to have been forced open. 'These are not our inputs, but instead submitted by the defence lawyer,' he said, underscoring that the account originated with the accused's own legal team.

Harshit further alleged that police had arrived at the scene before the robbery was completed and had, according to his claim, apprehended the fleeing thieves — yet the statements issued by Madhya Pradesh Police Commissioner Kailash Makwana and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) were, he alleged, mutually contradictory. 'We still don't know how many thieves were there, what was stolen, and what has been seized,' he said. 'I think they need some time to formulate their story.'

Family Alleges Institutional Bias

Twisha's father Navnidhi Sharma pointed out that the burglary has been described differently by four separate sources — media reports, the ACP, the Police Commissioner, and the defence advocate during the court hearing. 'So, which one should we consider as genuine?' he asked.

Navnidhi described the incident as a 'strange robbery where thieves came to steal documents — that too, in a way, under police surveillance because the police team was patrolling at that time.' He alleged that the suspects were caught and subsequently released. Alleging 'institutional bias', he demanded a thorough probe and called for the case to be transferred to Delhi to ensure 'neutrality and transparency'.

Sharp Words for the Police

Harshit did not hold back in his criticism. 'Earlier we considered them incompetent for not lodging our FIR, tampering with evidence, etc., but when you see the bigger picture, there are clearly competent efforts,' he said sarcastically, adding that the police 'should be given an award for following orders without caring about their reputation.'

Both family members alleged that the system appears to be 'helping' the accused, making the delivery of justice 'challenging' — though Harshit added that the family remains 'hopeful'.

Court Rejects Oral Plea by Defence

The immediate trigger for Tuesday's statements was a Bhopal court's refusal to consider an oral submission by the defence seeking permission for accused Giribala Singh, a retired judge, to visit her residence purportedly to assess the burglary. The court held that such a request could only be entertained through a formal written application — a procedural check that the family welcomed.

What Comes Next

The Twisha Sharma dowry death case has already drawn scrutiny over alleged evidence tampering and delayed FIR registration. The family's latest demand for a case transfer to Delhi and an independent inquiry into the burglary episode is likely to intensify political and judicial attention on the matter. Whether the court accepts a formal written application from the defence — and how investigators respond to the family's contradictions allegation — will be the next key developments to watch.