The Medico Legal Institute in Bhopal has recommended that the heart of professor H S Sabharwal, who died following violence in college polls at Ujjain, should be sent back to Indore's Mahatma Gandhi [Images] Medical College for thorough tests.

"We had recommended to the police to send the sample (Sabharwal's heart) for thorough histo-pathological tests at the pathology department of MGM College, which is well equipped to do the examination," MLI director D K Satapathy told PTI.

Sabharwal's heart, which was returned by MGM College on the ground that legal norms were not followed by police, had earlier been referred to the MLI, Satapathy said.

Maintaining that the MLI had carried out only an external examination of the heart, Satpathy said detailed histo-pathological tests are essential to form a scientific opinion. The heart can be sent to MGM College for tests after following all necessary guidelines.

"The sample had not come to MLI by mistake. There should be no confusion as police generally refers complicated cases to the institute for tests and for advise and guidance," he said.

If MGM College fails to conduct the necessary tests, the MLI can suggest other options, he said.