The matter came up before Justice Singh, where senior advocate Mrigendra Singh, appearing for Samarth Singh, submitted that his client intended to withdraw his anticipatory bail plea and voluntarily surrender before the trial court. The defence also urged the court to direct that Samarth Singh’s bail application be heard and decided on the same day of surrender.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, strongly opposed the request. He informed the court that the accused had been absconding and should surrender directly before the investigating officer instead of seeking immediate relief through the trial court.
“The husband of the victim is absconding,” Mehta submitted, adding, “He can surrender before the IO.”
Mehta further argued that at the current stage of investigation, the accused had limited legal standing. “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,” he said, as reported by Live Law.
The hearing also included a plea filed by Twisha Sharma’s father seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to the victim’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh. Another petition before the court demanded a second post-mortem examination of the deceased.
During arguments on the request for a second post-mortem, the bench observed that AIIMS Bhopal lacked the facilities required to preserve the body for an extended period.
Senior advocate Mrigendra Singh stated that the accused side had no objection to a second post-mortem but argued that such a request, without pointing out specific flaws in the initial 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.
In response, Tushar Mehta said the state was not questioning the integrity of the doctors who conducted the initial examination. “When a father loses his daughter and seeks another medical opinion for satisfaction, we should not object,” he told the court.
Twisha Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her family has accused her husband, Samarth Singh, and mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Police have registered an FIR under sections related to dowry death, cruelty, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
