Samarth Singh, the husband of model Twisha Sharma, has been remanded in police custody as investigations continue into her alleged dowry death, with a second autopsy ordered by the Madhya Pradesh high court.
Key Points
- Samarth Singh, husband of Twisha Sharma, remanded in police custody for seven days in connection with alleged dowry death.
- Twisha Sharma, a former actor-model, was found dead at her home in Bhopal.
- AIIMS Delhi medical team to conduct a second autopsy of Twisha Sharma reached Bhopal.
- Mother-in-law Giribala Singh says police are yet to contact her for statement.
A local court in Bhopal on Saturday remanded Samarth Singh, husband of former actor-model Twisha Sharma and an accused in her alleged dowry death case, in police custody for seven days, while his mother and co-accused Giribala Singh said the police were yet to contact her for recording her statement in the high-profile case.
Meanwhile, acting on a direction of the Madhya Pradesh high court, AIIMS Delhi on Saturday constituted a medical board comprising four senior doctors, who flew to Bhopal for conducting the second autopsy of the actor-model.
The body of the 33-year-old Twisha, a Noida native who was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on May 12, is currently kept at the mortuary of AIIMS Bhopal.
The medical team, which reached Bhopal on Saturday by a state chartered plane, will conduct the second autopsy on Sunday.
Chief of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Sudhir Gupta, said the court order authorised the director of AIIMS Delhi to constitute the medical board.
The hospital received the order and request from Madhya Pradesh government officials to conduct the postmortem on Sunday morning.
AIIMS Team to Also Visit Twisha's Home
Dr Gupta constituted the medical board comprising four senior doctors from AIIMS Delhi with the approval of the director.
"The team, along with the latest instruments flew by a state chartered plane. The autopsy will be conduxted on Sunday at AIIMS Bhopal where the body has been kept in a mortuary," Dr Gupta said.
The team is also expected to visit Twisha's home -- the incident scene.
While Twisha's in-laws allege she suffered from drug addiction, her family maintains she was harassed for dowry, leading to her death.
Arrest and Court Proceedings in Dowry Death Case
Samarth Singh, who had been absconding for 10 days after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him and his mother following Twisha's death by hanging, was arrested on Friday evening after he reached the Jabalpur district court premises to surrender.
He had withdrawn his pre-arrest bail petition filed in the Madhya Pradesh high court earlier.
He was taken to Bhopal in the wee hours of Saturday and produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Anudita Gupta who sent him in police custody for seven days. His lawyer also handed over his passport to the court.
Mother-in-Law's Response and High Court Involvement
Giribala Singh, who is currently the chairperson of the Bhopal District Consumer Court, on Saturday said she would be happy to record her statement, but Bhopal Police had not reached out to her so far.
She could not step out of her house owing to the chaotic situation outside, she said, apparently referring to the presence of mediapersons.
A day earlier, the high court issued a notice to her on pleas seeking cancellation of her anticipatory bail, and sought her response by May 25. Two days ago, Bhopal Police had issued a third and final notice to her after she allegedly failed to appear for recording her statement.
Second Autopsy Ordered by High Court
The High Court on Friday also ordered a second autopsy for Twisha by a specialised team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, in response to a petition filed by her parents.
