Samarth Singh willing to surrender in Twisha Sharma dowry death case

Accused husband Samarth Singh has informed the Madhya Pradesh high court of his willingness to surrender in the Twisha Sharma dowry death case

BHOPAL: A dramatic turn emerged in the Twisha Sharma death case on Friday after accused husband Samarth Singh informed the Madhya Pradesh high court that he was willing to surrender in connection with the ongoing 'dowry death' investigation. During the hearing before Justice Singh, senior advocate Mrigendra Singh, appearing for Samarth Singh, submitted that his client wanted to withdraw his anticipatory bail plea and surrender before the trial court. The defence also requested the court to direct the trial court to hear and decide Samarth Singh’s bail plea on the very same day of surrender. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly representing the MP govt opposed the request, telling the court that Samarth Singh had been absconding and should surrender directly before the investigating officer instead of seeking relief through the trial court. “Husband of the victim is absconding,” Tushar Mehta submitted, adding, “He can surrender before the IO.” Mehta further argued that the accused had limited rights at the current stage of investigation. “He wants to surrender, I have no difficulty. But he has no locus standi to address the court on the second post-mortem issue, which is solely between the victim’s family, the court and the state,” Mehta said as reported by Live Law. The hearing also included Twisha Sharma’s father’s plea seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to mother-in-law Giribala Singh, along with a separate petition demanding a second post-mortem examination. While hearing the plea for a second post-mortem, the bench observed that AIIMS Bhopal did not have facilities to preserve the body for a prolonged period. Senior advocate Mrigendra Singh said the accused side had no objection to a second post-mortem but argued that seeking another examination without pointing out flaws in the first report could undermine confidence in the state’s medical system. “This is an insult to health services. They should first show what doubts they have regarding the first post-mortem,” he argued. Tushar Mehta responded that the state was not questioning the integrity of the doctors who conducted the first examination. “When a father loses his daughter and seeks another medical opinion for satisfaction, we should not object,” Mehta told the court. Twisha Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her family has accused husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Police have registered an FIR under provisions related to dowry death, cruelty and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.