SC takes suo motu cognisance of Twisha Sharma case to hear matter on May 25
The Supreme Court on Saturday took suo motu cognisance of the Twisha Sharma ‘dowry’ death case over alleged institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the matter. According to the details uploaded on the apex court website, the court registered the suo moto case after taking note of media reports and other attending circumstances.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi is scheduled to hear the matter on May 25.
The suo moto case is titled “alleged institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the unnatural death of a young girl at her matrimonial home”.
Earlier in the day, the Bhopal court on Saturday sent Samarth Singh, husband of deceased actor-model Twisha Sharma, to police remand in the alleged dowry death case that has drawn nationwide attention and intensified demands for a high-level investigation.
Samarth Singh, who had been absconding since registration of the case, was taken into custody in Jabalpur after appearing before a court to surrender. The Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended the licence of advocate Samarth Singh with immediate effect.
Following the court’s directions, AIIMS Delhi has constituted a four-member medical board to conduct the second autopsy. Chief of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Sudhir Gupta, said the High Court authorised the AIIMS director to form the expert panel after a request was received from the Madhya Pradesh Government.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has also issued notice on a plea seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh. The court further allowed a second post-mortem examination after Twisha’s family raised doubts over the findings of the first autopsy and alleged foul play.
Police are expected to interrogate him regarding the circumstances leading to Twisha’s death, alleged domestic harassment, financial transactions and other evidence collected during the investigation. The case was registered against Samarth Singh and his mother, Giribala Singh, a retired district judge, following complaints made by Twisha’s family.
According to officials, the team of senior forensic experts, equipped with advanced instruments, will travel to Bhopal by a State-chartered aircraft on Sunday evening. Twisha Sharma’s body is currently kept at the mortuary of AIIMS Bhopal.
Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old actor-model and former Miss Pune winner, was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12. Her family has alleged continuous harassment, domestic violence and dowry-related pressure by her husband and in-laws.
The Madhya Pradesh government has also recommended a CBI inquiry into the case. Welcoming the move, Twisha’s family demanded a speedy investigation and fast-track trial to ensure justice.
