The infamous Twisha Sharma death case took a startling turn on Wednesday after the Madhya Pradesh government told the High Court (HC) that injury marks found on her body may indicate a physical struggle before her death, raising fresh doubts over the suicide theory that initially shaped the probe.

The state spilled the beans during an intense hearing in the Madhya Pradesh HC on Wednesday, where it challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Twisha’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh. The development has now intensified scrutiny on both Singh and Twisha’s husband, Samarth, as investigators probe allegations of dowry harassment, mental cruelty and possible foul play.

Twisha Sharma (Right) and her husband Samarth Singh (Left)

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, pointed to injuries sustained by Twisha to her wrist, elbow and head, arguing that such wounds could not have been caused while the body was being brought down. He submitted before the court, “The autopsy findings suggest the possibility of a scuffle or resistance before death.”

Govt blasts Giribala Singh over non-cooperation

The state government lashed out at Giribala Singh, accusing her of evading the investigation despite being served notices on May 13 and 14. According to the prosecution, police teams did not find her at her home when they went there to issue summons. The government added to the allegations, saying that Singh attempted to influence the perception of the public through repeated media interactions after Twisha’s death.

Mehta said during the hearing, “She had time to speak to the media, but not to cooperate with the investigation.”

The prosecution argued that Singh’s public statements apparently shaped a narrative and potentially influenced witnesses. Mehta further said that attempts were being made to portray Singh as ‘liberal-minded,’ even though the WhatsApp chats exchanged within the family allegedly painted a completely different picture.

Twisha’s chats reveal emotional distress

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing on behalf of Twisha’s family, argued that anticipatory bail had been granted prematurely, before the cops could examine the evidence completely. He cited WhatsApp conversations in court, claiming Twisha had repeatedly mentioned emotional abuse and suffocation within her matrimonial home. In one message made to her mother, she wrote, “They are extremely cruel, there is no compassion here, I feel suffocated.”

CBI tightens grip on investigation

In a parallel development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday took Samarth into custody after taking over the probe earlier this week. Twisha, a former Miss Pune, was allegedly found hanging at her matrimonial house in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, barely five months after her marriage.