Twisha Sharma cremated in Bhopal after second autopsy amid dowry harassment probe
MADHYA PRADESH, MAY 24 : Former model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma, the Noida woman who died at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12 amid allegations of dowry harassment, was cremated on Sunday after a team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi conducted a second postmortem on her body.
The last rites were performed at Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat in Bhopal after 5 pm, 12 days after her death. As the flames of the pyre rose, the immense emotional toll of the past two weeks finally broke through, and many family members collapsed, weeping inconsolably after days of putting on a brave face to fight for a second postmortem.
Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, struggled for words as he paid tribute to his daughter and also reposed faith in the Supreme Court, which has taken suo motu cognisance of the case.
“She used to take care of us as a mother would. I don’t know how we would be able to live without her. This case will set an example in the coming days. A hope for justice has risen as the Supreme Court has taken cognisance,” he said after bidding final adieu to Twisha.
During Twisha’s cremation, her mother, Rekha, was inconsolable and almost on the verge of passing out. Women mourners around her took her to a lawn nearby and sprinkled water on her face.
Twisha’s brother, Major Harshit Sharma, said she was emotional, loving, and caring. He equated her with the first ray of the Sun during dawn that brightens the day.
Retired Major General Shyam Shrivastava, founder of the Vardi Foundation, said that they will ensure that Twisha’s family get justice. “We will fight to the finish,” he said.
Family members of former model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma during the latter’s last rites at Bhadbhada Cremation Ground in Bhopal, Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Twisha Sharma death case: Bhopal Police to probe who helped Samarth Singh stay in hiding after FIR In a press statement released just hours before the cremation, the Sharma family detailed the agony of their long wait, noting that the delay forced them to violate deeply held Hindu traditions, which ordinarily dictate that post-death rituals be completed within a 13-day mourning period.
The family said that for any parent, there can be no greater tragedy than carrying the mortal remains of their young daughter to her final resting place, yet they were forced to endure the agonising ordeal of waiting days just to bid her a final farewell.
The delayed farewell was made possible only after a specialised medical team from AIIMS Delhi conducted a meticulous, second post-mortem at AIIMS Bhopal for nearly four hours, and the procedure focused mainly on preserving evidence and investigating physical injuries that the family alleges were overlooked in the initial local probe.
Chief of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Sudhir Gupta, meanwhile, said the compilation of the report will take some time as certain laboratory tests, including histopathology and viscera examination, are required.
The team also visited Twisha’s residence and the incident spot to carry out assessments related to the case.
Dr Gupta added that the team will return tomorrow (Monday) with the samples, photographs, videos and written findings.
The second autopsy was ordered by the Madhya Pradesh High Court following serious concerns raised by Twisha’s parents regarding procedural lapses by local authorities.
Twisha (33) was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, with her family accusing her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Her in-laws, however, claimed she suffered from drug addiction.
The police have registered an FIR against Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, who is a lawyer, and her mother-in-law and former district judge Giribala Singh on charges of harassment for dowry.
Samarth Singh was arrested in Jabalpur on Friday after remaining absconding for 10 days. A Bhopal court on Saturday sent him to a seven-day police remand.
-PTI
