The Supreme Court on Saturday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged dowry death case involving actor-model Twisha Sharma, raising concerns over possible institutional bias and irregularities in the investigation.
As per information available on the apex court website, the case was registered after the court took note of media reports and other developments linked to the matter.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, is expected to hear the case on May 25.
The matter has been registered under the title related to “alleged institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the unnatural death of a young woman at her matrimonial home”.
Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her in-laws’ residence in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12. After her death, police registered an FIR against her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh over allegations of dowry harassment.
On Saturday, a local court sent Samarth Singh to seven days of police custody. Police said he had allegedly been missing for around 10 days after the FIR was filed. He was arrested on Friday evening after appearing before a court in Jabalpur to surrender. Earlier, he had withdrawn his anticipatory bail plea from the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Meanwhile, Giribala Singh, who is the chairperson of the Bhopal District Consumer Court, said police had not yet recorded her statement. She also claimed she could not leave her home because mediapersons were gathered outside.
On Friday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued a notice to her on petitions seeking cancellation of her anticipatory bail and asked her to respond by May 25. Earlier, Bhopal Police had served her a third and final notice after she allegedly skipped questioning.
In another development, a four-member team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi will conduct a second autopsy on Twisha Sharma on Sunday following directions from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The order came after a petition filed by her parents.
Earlier this week, the Bar Council of India suspended Samarth Singh from practising law with immediate effect, saying the allegations against him were serious and had harmed the image and dignity of the legal profession.