Family protests after retired judge’s daughter-in-law suicide:Alleges murder, evidence tampering; police deny misconduct, investigation underway

Relatives of Twisha Sharma, daughter-in-law of retired judge Giribala Singh, created a ruckus at the women’s police station in Bhopal on Thursday afternoon in connection with her alleged suicide case. The family demanded details of the action taken by police in the last 24 hours and accused the police of shielding Twisha’s husband because of the family’s influence. The deceased’s relatives levelled serious allegations against husband Samarth Singh, accusing him of murder and tampering with evidence. They claimed police were delaying action despite recording statements. Tension prevailed at the police station for a long time during the protest. Relatives’ allegation – We were mistreated at the police station Twisha’s family also made serious allegations against Katara Hills police. According to them, when they reached the police station on Wednesday night seeking justice, the main gate was shut after seeing them. They claimed they remained outside the police station till midnight, but no officer came forward to speak to them. The family alleged that the entire system was refusing to listen to them and that no concrete action had been taken against the accused side so far. They also accused police of deliberately delaying the investigation. The family further alleged that attempts were being made to defame Twisha even after her death by portraying her as a drug addict. Sister’s allegation – Samarth disappeared for an hour after leaving the body Twisha’s sister Priyanka alleged that Samarth Singh and his mother had taken the body to the hospital. After doctors confirmed her death, both allegedly disappeared for nearly an hour. She claimed they later returned home and tampered with evidence. According to the family, no action has been taken so far because of the accused family’s influence. Priyanka alleged that while the family was struggling for justice after Twisha’s death, government authorities were harassing them instead of helping them. She claimed the accused were being given an opportunity to escape and that the family was being sent from one official to another without any concrete action. Police said – No misbehavior occurred at the police station Responding to allegations of misbehaviour, Katara Hills police station in-charge Sunil Dubey said CCTV cameras were installed inside the police station premises and denied any misconduct by police personnel. He claimed it was the relatives who had misbehaved with the police staff. Investigation handed over to ACP The police station in-charge said the case diary had been forwarded to the ACP because it involved the death of a newly married woman. Further investigation will now be conducted at the ACP level. Statements of family members have already been recorded. According to the short postmortem report, the cause of death was hanging. Body found hanging from noose at home Twisha Sharma, 31, was found hanging at her house in the Katara Hills area on Tuesday night. Her family has accused her husband and in-laws of mental harassment. They also claimed blue injury marks were found on her hands and ears. Twisha was originally from Noida and had married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Sharma around a year ago. Her brother Harshit Sharma serves as a Major in the Indian Army. Twisha had made her last call to her brother Major Harshit Sharma said Twisha had called him on Tuesday night and told him that her husband had been harassing her for the past eight days. He alleged she was being insulted over minor issues and mentally tortured. According to the family, Twisha had expressed her wish to leave Bhopal and return to her parental home in Noida. They said she had even booked tickets to travel back before news of her death arrived. ‘Called me useless after leaving job’ Harshit alleged that things were normal in the early days of marriage, but behaviour towards Twisha changed after she quit her job. He claimed she was taunted and called “useless”, while her family and upbringing were also insulted. According to him, this pushed her into depression. The family said Twisha had left her job after marriage because she was supposed to settle in Bhopal and later did not wish to take up another job, which became a reason for disputes between the couple. Twisha found hanging from noose on terrace Former judge Giribala Singh said the entire family had been watching television together till around 9:30 pm on the night of the incident and CCTV footage was available. She said Twisha often went to the terrace to speak on the phone. When family members later went upstairs, they found her hanging using an exercise elastic band. She was immediately taken to AIIMS, but doctors declared her dead. Giribala Singh further claimed that Twisha was undergoing psychological treatment and was taking psychiatric medication. She also alleged that Twisha had informed doctors about marijuana consumption and a previous abortion.