Twisha Sharma case: Husband Samarth Singh held after court surrender in Jabalpur
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jabalpur police took Samarth Singh into custody on 22 May after he appeared before a Jabalpur court to surrender in connection with the alleged suicide of his wife, Twisha Sharma. Singh had been absconding for 10 days following Twisha's death, which was declared at AIIMS Bhopal late on the night of 12 May.
What investigators are examining
Police officials said Singh will be questioned in detail about the circumstances surrounding Twisha's death, his movements in the period before and after the incident, and the allegations levelled by the victim's family. Investigators are also expected to scrutinise his communication records and interactions with other accused persons named in the First Information Report (FIR).
The FIR was registered at Katara Hills police station in Bhopal. Among the co-accused is Giribala Singh, a retired judge and Twisha's mother-in-law. The case has drawn intense public scrutiny after Twisha's family accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment and mental torture.
High Court orders second autopsy by AIIMS Delhi team
In a significant parallel development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered a second post-mortem examination of Twisha's body, to be conducted by a team of forensic experts from AIIMS Delhi. The order came while the court was hearing a petition filed by Twisha's family, which had challenged a lower court's refusal to permit a fresh autopsy.
The family alleged serious procedural lapses and inconsistencies in the first post-mortem report and sought an independent medical opinion. The High Court observed that, given the gravity of the allegations and the sensitivity of the matter, an independent examination was necessary to ensure fairness and transparency in the investigation.
The court also directed state authorities to preserve all medical and forensic evidence and instructed that the first post-mortem report, inquest documents, photographs, videography, and other forensic material be handed over to the AIIMS Delhi team.
CBI probe in the works
The Madhya Pradesh government has already given its consent for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case, and the process of formally transferring the investigation to the central agency is reportedly underway. This comes amid mounting pressure from Twisha's family and public interest in the case.
Notably, the convergence of a High Court-mandated second autopsy, a custodial interrogation, and an impending CBI takeover makes this one of the most closely watched dowry-related cases in Madhya Pradesh in recent years. How the forensic findings from the AIIMS Delhi team align — or conflict — with the original report is expected to be a defining moment in the investigation.