The post-mortem report in the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma has concluded that she died due to “antemortem hanging by ligature,” adding a significant development to the ongoing investigation that has triggered allegations of murder and dowry harassment from her family.
The autopsy, conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS Bhopal, stated that Twisha was found hanging from a gymnastic ring rope on the terrace of her residence at around 10:26 pm on May 12.
The report identified double reddish-patterned ligature marks around the upper third of her neck, with the skin underneath described as dry, hard and “parchmentised.” It also noted that the ligature mark was incomplete at the back of the neck, a detail often examined in hanging cases.
Doctors documented multiple signs consistent with asphyxia, including facial congestion, bluish discolouration of the ears and fingernails, along with petechial haemorrhages in one eye.
The autopsy further recorded several ante-mortem blunt-force injuries on different parts of the body, including abrasions on the neck and bruises on the left arm, forearm, right wrist, right index finger and beneath the scalp. However, the medical board classified these as simple ante-mortem injuries and concluded that the primary cause of death was hanging.
The report also stated that no drugs were found in Twisha’s body, contradicting earlier claims made publicly by her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, who had alleged that Twisha consumed prohibited substances and marijuana.
Twisha’s family has consistently maintained that she was subjected to mental torture and dowry harassment after marriage and has accused her in-laws of involvement in her death.
The family has also demanded a second post-mortem examination, alleging that the earlier process was incomplete.
Meanwhile, police have urged the family to take possession of Twisha’s body, which has remained in the mortuary for an extended period.
In a communication to the family, police said the body was currently being stored at minus four degrees Celsius at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary and warned that prolonged storage could lead to decomposition, as facilities to preserve the body at minus 80 degrees Celsius were unavailable.
The case continues to draw public attention as investigations into the circumstances surrounding Twisha Sharma’s death remain underway.
