New Delhi: Twisha Sharma’s family has expressed dissatisfaction with the CBI’s investigation into the 33-year-old’s death, saying the charge sheet filed by the agency Monday was “partial”.
They said several questions remain unanswered, including the reasoning behind the bruises on her body before her death. The family also plans to challenge the second post-mortem report and demand a better investigation.
The CBI’s charge sheet notes “cruelty” leading up to Twisha’s death. Speaking to ThePrint, Twisha’s father Navnidhi Sharma said the family was heartbroken by the contents of the charge sheet. “The contents of the charge sheet have made it clear that our questions surrounding her death continue to be unanswered,” said Sharma.
Referring to the charge sheet, Sharma said that his legal representative would seek permission for a third opinion on the post-mortem report. “The first post-mortem report mentions bruises and two ligature marks, but the second one makes no mention of the blood clots at all. The hospital authority did not even share a video or photographs from the second post-mortem, as is our right,” said Sharma.
He said that he understood the investigators rely primarily on medical reports, and that’s why their legal counsel would seek permission for a third report.
The second post-mortem report referenced in the charge sheet was conducted in Bhopal on 24 May by an AIIMS Delhi medical board following the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The medical board had concluded that the cause of death was “asphyxia as a result of ante-mortem hanging, which is suicidal in manner, produced by the examined ligature material, the gymnastic belt with a ring”. The report, however, did not mention any other “injury of importance” on the deceased caused by assault or scuffle.
However, the first post-mortem report prepared by doctors at AIIMS Bhopal observed “two parallel ligature marks” on Sharma’s neck during the autopsy. They also observed that the investigators did not produce the alleged nylon belt from the scene of the crime before the medical board.
The report further mentioned “multiple antemortem injuries (simple in nature, possible by blunt force)”. This included “two reddish abrasions” on the front of the neck, bruises on the left arm including two “bluish contusions,” and another injury described as a ” reddish contusion” over the “right ring finger.”
Sharma pointed out that investigators still have not been able to answer why “no police or ambulance was called” when Twisha’s body was found. “How did Giribala Singh untie the noose of an 80 kg woman? Why did they not call an ambulance or police?” asked Sharma.
His voice full of anguish, Sharma said the family is still unable to process the moments after Twisha’s death. “We neither know why Giribala called someone to meddle with the CCTV, nor do we know anything about the moments leading up to her death,” said Sharma.
Now awaiting the second chargesheet, Sharma said the family will request the court to “move the case away from Madhya Pradesh to ensure that there is no influence in the legal proceedings”.
(Edited by Jeyasri AT)
The court should ask the father to do the post-mortem himself. That’s the only way to satisfy him and his family. He can produce whatever fairytale report he wishes to and concoct charges against the husband and the mother-in-law.
One cannot but feel deeply for Giribala Singh and her son Samarth. Both have stoically borne the brunt of a vicious media trial which made villains out of them in this tragic case of suicide.