'Stored at -4°C, requires -80°C': Cops 'request' family to take Twisha Sharma's 'decomposing' body

BHOPAL: The family of Twisha Sharma is facing an agonising choice: accept the body of their 33-year-old daughter or continue the legal battle for a second post-mortem examination as concerns grow over decomposition.

Also read: Twisha's family moves court to seek second postmortem, alleges pre-death injuries
Twisha was found hanging on the terrace of her in-laws’ home in Bhopal on the night of 12 May, barely five months after her marriage.



'Stored at -4°C, requires -80°C'

Her body has remained at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary since 13 May after her parents refused to take custody, demanding a fresh autopsy and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

In a letter addressed to the family, police said "the body was being stored at minus 4 degrees Celsius at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary, but doctors from the institute’s Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department had warned that a temperature of minus 80 degrees Celsius was required to prevent decomposition."

“This facility is not available at AIIMS Bhopal,” the letter said.

Police added that they had “no objection to conducting a re-postmortem”, but warned that “since the deceased’s body has been lying in the mortuary for a long time, there is a strong possibility of decomposition”.

The family was requested to “kindly take custody of the deceased’s body”.

The case was registered at Katara Hills police station under sections related to dowry harassment.

Twisha’s parents have maintained that her death was suspicious and have sought a second post-mortem examination by an independent medical board.

In a fresh statement issued on Wednesday, the family said “an independent medical opinion from a premier national institution will help restore public confidence in the investigation”.

An application seeking a second autopsy was filed on Tuesday before Magistrate Anudita Gupta and is expected to be heard on Wednesday.

The family said the request was aimed at ensuring “transparency and preserve vital forensic evidence in connection with the suspicious circumstances surrounding Twisha’s death."

'In such a system, how can a middle class person hope of justice?'

Twisha Sharma's father Navnidhi Sharma on Wednesday said, "There were a lot of faults in the postmortem and without even submitting the ligature, the postmortem report was released. They were asking us to take the body. What kind of findings are these? Submission of ligature was delayed on purpose so that she (Giribala Singh) could get anticipatory bail. Judiciary is being misused and this shows her interference.

"In such a system, how can a middle class person hope of justice? So many faults have been exposed... They have tampered with evidence and it clearly shows. Ever since we received the postmortem report, we have been demanding for another postmortem. We did not even take her body and have asked the hospital to preserve the body well. We have all email evidences," he added further.

With the body lying in the mortuary for more than eight days, the family also expressed concern that any further delay could affect crucial forensic findings.