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Madhya Pradesh High Court mandates a second autopsy for Twisha Sharma while husband Samarth Singh is finally taken into custody after days of absconding.
The Madhya Pradesh Police took Samarth Singh, the husband of Twisha Sharma, into custody on Friday, May 22, 2026. Singh had been absconding for days in connection with a dowry death and harassment case. This development occurred shortly after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a specialized team from AIIMS Delhi to perform a second autopsy on Sharma’s body. The case witnessed significant procedural shifts on the same day, including the state government’s recommendation for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
This recommendation came just two days after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met with Sharma’s family. A notification from the M.P. Home Department cited Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, granting the CBI jurisdiction over the entire state for this investigation. Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar confirmed Singh’s detention, stating that police are handling the process and will produce him before a court within 24 hours.
Singh, a lawyer, was apprehended by Jabalpur Police when he arrived at the district court there to surrender. His attorney, Jaideep Kaurav, explained that the court was not available due to the end of the judicial day. Kaurav noted that the police took custody from the court and handed Singh over to Bhopal Police. He mentioned that there was no commotion at the court and predicted Singh’s appearance in the Bhopal court the following day.
The judicial proceedings regarding the autopsy were triggered by a petition filed by Sharma’s father, Navnidhi Sharma. Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh of the High Court ruled that a second post-mortem was necessary to clear all doubts, given that Sharma died within six months of her marriage. The court directed the Director of AIIMS, New Delhi, to constitute an expert team. These experts are expected to arrive via a special flight arranged by the state government to conduct the examination in Bhopal. The court clarified that this directive was not an imputation of wrongful motives but a procedural step to ensure clarity.
In a separate legal development, the High Court also addressed petitions challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh, the retired judge and mother-in-law of Sharma. The court directed Ms. Singh to appear before it on or before May 25. Ankur Pandey, the lawyer representing Sharma’s family, stated that both the family and the state government had challenged the bail, leading to the High Court issuing a notice.
Commissioner Kumar provided context on the challenges to Ms. Singh’s bail, citing her lack of cooperation with the probe. He reported that three notices had been issued to her. The police included allegations from Sharma’s family that Ms. Singh had contacted influential persons and judicial authorities after the death. Kumar emphasized that the FIR was registered within two days of the incident, asserting prompt action while noting that the CBI investigation is a matter for the government level.
Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her marital home in Bhopal on the night of May 12. She had married Samarth Singh on December 25 of the previous year. Her family has leveled various allegations against Singh and her mother-in-law, citing mental harassment and financial demands. While Singh remained at large after the FIR registration on May 15, the case’s narrative shifted when his mother claimed before the media that Sharma suffered from mental illness and had addictions. These allegations were made after Singh had gone missing.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision to mandate a second autopsy and the state government’s move to involve the CBI mark a critical escalation in the Twisha Sharma dowry death investigation. These actions reflect a judicial response to public scrutiny and the family’s demands for transparency. The appointment of AIIMS experts suggests a need for independent, high-level forensic verification beyond local capabilities. Furthermore, the scrutiny of anticipatory bail for the mother-in-law indicates that authorities are reassessing the scope of accused influence on the case. As the CBI prepares to take over, the inquiry is likely to broaden, potentially uncovering deeper systemic issues regarding dowry harassment and judicial cooperation in the region. The swift police action in capturing Singh demonstrates immediate law enforcement responsiveness, but the long-term impact will depend on the integrity and thoroughness of the central investigation. This case is poised to set a precedent for handling high-profile dowry deaths in Madhya Pradesh, emphasizing judicial intervention in ensuring fair trials and thorough forensic examinations.
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