Twisha's body kept in -4°C storage for 7 days. The ideal temperature is way lower

While the ideal temperature for long-term body preservation is around minus 80 degrees Celsius, the body of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, who was found dead at her marital home in Bhopal last week, remained stored at minus 4 degrees Celsius for over a week at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal.

The Bhopal court on Wednesday observed that no facility equipped with ultra-low temperature preservation systems was available either at AIIMS Bhopal or elsewhere in the city, and subsequently directed the police to immediately identify medical institutions with such facilities in Madhya Pradesh.

“According to the police report, the body is currently being kept in the mortuary at AIIMS Bhopal at minus 4 degrees Celsius. As per the authorities at AIIMS Bhopal, the body needs to be preserved at minus 80 degrees Celsius, and based on information gathered from other institutions in Bhopal, no such low-temperature preservation facility is available anywhere in the city,” the court said in its order.

Twisha's body has been kept in the mortuary of AIIMS, Bhopal, since her postmortem examination was conducted on May 13. Twisha's family, which hails from Noida, had requested the police commissioner to preserve the body for further investigation and a second postmortem.

The court, in its order, also directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Katara Hills police station to submit a report on low-temperature preservation facilities in Madhya Pradesh and other metropolitan cities before the court without delay.

These observations were made by the court while rejecting a plea filed by Twisha Sharma’s family seeking a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi.

POLICE URGES FAMILY TO TAKE CUSTODY OF BODY

Earlier in the day, the police also urged the family of Twisha Sharma to take custody of her body amid concerns that it could begin decomposing.

In a letter addressed to Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, police said the body had remained in the mortuary for several days and warned there was a “strong possibility” of decomposition if custody was not taken soon.

TWISHA'S AUTOPSY FINDINGS

According to the autopsy report, Twisha's neck bore two parallel ligature marks caused by pressure from the material allegedly used in the hanging.

The marks, each approximately 2 cm wide, were described as reddish patterned abrasions running upward on both sides of the neck above the thyroid region. Doctors also observed congestion and blood infiltration in the neck tissues.

The report concluded that the cause of death appeared to be “asphyxia as a result of ante-mortem hanging”, suggesting that Twisha was alive at the time of the hanging.

However, the mention of double ligature marks has further intensified concerns raised by Twisha’s family, which has been demanding a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi, alleging inconsistencies in the investigation and possible suppression of evidence.

Speaking to India Today TV, Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said the investigation was proceeding from the angle of suicide and maintained that there was no pressure on the police.

“Twisha died by suicide. The post-mortem report mentions ante-mortem hanging. We are investigating the circumstances under which she took the step,” Kumar said.

FAMILY ALLEGES LAPSES IN INVESTIGATION

Twisha, a resident of Noida, was found dead on May 12 at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area. Police later registered an FIR against her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, on charges related to dowry death and harassment.

Her family has alleged lapses in the investigation and sought a second postmortem examination, claiming investigators failed to properly document material evidence allegedly linked to the hanging.

The plea, filed by Twisha’s family, further claimed that investigators failed to provide the material allegedly used in the hanging during the first postmortem examination.

Twisha’s mother-in-law Giribala Singh, however, denied the allegations of harassment.

The family also questioned the delay in registration of the FIR, which was lodged three days after her death.

A Special Investigation Team is currently probing allegations of dowry harassment, physical assault and destruction of evidence in the case. Giribala Singh has denied the allegations made by the family.

- Ends