BHOPAL: Family members of a 33-year-old woman found dead in Bhopal earlier this week staged a protest outside the residence of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday, demanding a fresh post-mortem examination at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi.
Twisha Sharma, who was from Noida, was found hanging at her marital home in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on 12 May.
According to police, she met accused through a dating application in 2024 and married him in December 2025.
Her family has accused husband and his mother of murder.
Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, criticised the handling of the case and the grant of anticipatory bail to the accused’s mother.
“After the FIR was registered, we immediately demanded an arrest; however, on that very day—the day the arrest was supposed to take place—anticipatory bail was granted. To be honest, the arrest should undoubtedly have taken place. We are being told that ‘we are following the correct procedure’ and ‘maintaining a balance.’ Why is this word ‘balance’ being used?” he said.
“Secondly, the grounds upon which this anticipatory bail was granted have set a dangerous precedent; it has effectively become a black law... If anticipatory bail is being granted solely on the basis of age and reputation, then it renders the entire concept of law utterly meaningless,” he added.
Navnidhi Sharma also alleged delays in the registration of the FIR and claimed the family had not been informed about the handling of Twisha’s body after her death.
“You speak of ‘Nari Vandan,’ and you have even established special police stations for women; yet, that very station is refusing to even register our Zero FIR... It was only after tremendous insistence that our FIR was finally registered—on the night of the 15th,” he said.
“The police did not inform the parents that their daughter had passed away. The police should have informed us that they were transporting the body to AIIMS—especially given that the local police station was merely a few steps away,” he added.
Calling for external oversight, he said, “We demand an independent SIT and external oversight. The formation of an SIT for this case must take place directly under the supervision of the Supreme Court. These people wield immense influence. Their Lokayukta, their family, their entire extended network—people connected to them occupy high-ranking positions in every government department.”
“We are receiving constant threats—via phone calls and messages—and we find ourselves trapped in a situation where our very lives are at risk. Even the police appear to be siding with them,” he alleged.
Assistant commissioner of Police Rajneesh Kashyap, who is heading the SIT, said efforts were underway to trace the accused.
“A case has been registered at Katara Hills police station in connection with the death of Twisha Sharma. Efforts are currently underway to trace the absconding accused. Rewards have been announced, and multiple teams have been deployed for the search,” he said.
“Technical evidence and other available leads are being used to locate the accused. At the same time, the matter is under investigation, and the team is examining all new facts emerging during the probe,” he added.
According to Twisha’s relatives, she had wanted to leave Bhopal and return to Noida. They said she remained in contact with family members until around 10pm on Tuesday, shortly before her death.
Police earlier said a case had been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to dowry death and harassment against accused and his mother.
Officials said the SIT would investigate allegations of dowry harassment, physical assault and alleged attempts to destroy evidence after Twisha’s death.
A local court granted anticipatory bail to retd judge on Friday, while the hearing on husband's anticipatory bail plea is scheduled for 18 May
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