MP High Court orders second autopsy in Twisha Sharma death case

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a second post-mortem examination in the death case of Twisha Sharma, directing that the procedure be conducted by a team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi.

The order was passed on Friday while the court was hearing a petition filed by Sharma’s family challenging a lower court decision that had denied permission for a fresh autopsy.

The family alleged that the initial investigation and first post-mortem examination contained serious inconsistencies and procedural irregularities, raising doubts about the credibility of the probe.

During the hearing, the high court instructed state authorities to preserve all medical and forensic evidence linked to the case and provide complete cooperation to the AIIMS Delhi medical team.

The court further directed that all records connected to the investigation — including the original post-mortem report and related documents — be handed over to the experts conducting the second examination.

Observing that the allegations raised by the family warranted an independent medical assessment, the court said a fresh autopsy was necessary given the seriousness of the matter.

Twisha Sharma was found dead on 12 May at her in-laws’ residence in Bag Mugalia Extension under the jurisdiction of Katara Hills police station in Bhopal.

In their petition, her family accused investigators of significant lapses in handling the case. They alleged that the FIR was lodged three days after her death despite repeated appeals for immediate police action.

The family also questioned the manner in which the first autopsy was conducted. According to their counsel, the material allegedly used in the hanging was not provided to doctors during the examination process.

Another issue raised before the court concerned an alleged discrepancy between Sharma’s height as recorded in the post-mortem report and the measurements documented by police investigators.

The case has drawn widespread public attention following allegations of dowry harassment against Sharma’s in-laws.

Among those named in the FIR is retired judge Giribala Singh, Sharma’s mother-in-law. Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter, with formal procedures for the transfer of the investigation currently underway.

With IANS inputs