Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, May 15: The death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, a resident of Noida who had married a Bhopal-based advocate five months ago, has triggered allegations of mental harassment, domestic violence and dowry abuse against her husband and in-laws.
According to the family, Twisha had married advocate Samarth Singh earlier this year. On Tuesday night, her family received news of her death under suspicious circumstances.
Twisha’s brother, Major Harshit Sharma of the Indian Army, alleged that she had called her mother at around 10.05 pm on the night of the incident and spoke about the harassment she was facing at her matrimonial home.
“During the conversation, she abruptly disconnected the call after her husband entered the room,” Major Sharma said.
He added that repeated attempts were made by the family to contact Twisha, her husband Samarth Singh and her mother-in-law Giribala Singh, but there was no response.
According to the family, at around 10.15 pm, Giribala Singh answered the phone call, following which Twisha’s relatives requested her to immediately check on her.
“Another five minutes later, at 10.20 pm, we were informed that Twisha was not breathing,” the family alleged.
Twisha was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Her family has alleged there was a delay in taking her for treatment despite the hospital being located nearly 10 minutes away from the residence.
“They reportedly reached the hospital only around 11.30 pm,” Major Sharma claimed.
The family further alleged that Twisha had been subjected to mental harassment and domestic violence after marriage and was also pressured into terminating her pregnancy.
“During her pregnancy, my sister had expressed her desire to continue and bear the child. However, she was allegedly subjected to severe pressure and coercion by her husband and in-laws to terminate the pregnancy,” Major Sharma alleged.
He further claimed that Twisha’s character was questioned repeatedly and allegations were made regarding the legitimacy of the child.
“Under sustained mental pressure and family coercion, the pregnancy was medically terminated,” he said.
The family also alleged dowry-related harassment and claimed Twisha was pressured to transfer shares and investments worth around Rs 20 lakh, gifted to her by her father, to her husband and in-laws.
According to the preliminary post-mortem report, the cause of death was “antemortem hanging by ligature”, indicating that she was alive at the time of hanging.
The report also mentioned “multiple antemortem injuries” on different parts of her body.
Investigators said the medical termination of pregnancy had reportedly taken place about a week before her death.
Viscera and blood samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination to determine the presence of any toxic substances. Nail samples have also been preserved for DNA analysis.
Police said clothes and cellotape recovered from the scene have been sealed and handed over for forensic examination, while the uterus has been preserved for histopathological analysis.
Twisha’s family has expressed fears of evidence tampering and demanded that the matrimonial house be sealed. They alleged the investigation could be influenced as her mother-in-law is a retired judge and her husband is a practising lawyer.
Police have registered an FIR against Samarth Singh under charges related to dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Giribala Singh has also been named as an accused in the case.