The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday registered a first information report (FIR) in the death case of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, who was found dead at the residence of her in-laws in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal earlier this month.
A team of the central probe agency has also reached Bhopal and taken over the case from the Madhya Pradesh Police. The team will start its investigation from Tuesday.
The development comes hours after the Supreme Court said that a CBI probe could be recommended in the case to ensure that the investigation is "fair, independent and impartial". Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government had also recommended a CBI probe after the victim's family met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
"We would like to impress upon the family members of the victim as well as the accused that instead of making statements in public or before a media platform, they should get their versions recorded before the investigating agency so that no prejudice or adverse impact is had on the ongoing investigation," the Supreme Court said on Monday.
Husband, mother-in-law named accused in CBI FIR
Coming to CBI probe, the agency has registered a FIR under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The FIR stated that Twisha got married to Samarth Singh on December 9 last year. It also said Twisha was allegedly harassed by her in-laws over dowry demands. The FIR named Samarth and his mother Giribala Singh as the accused.
The FIR also mentioned that the first autopsy confirmed "antemortem hanging", which means the hanging occurred while she was alive. Besides, injury marks were also found on several parts of her body, which were likely caused by a heavy object or physical assault.
It also said Twisha was allegedly being pressured over a demand of around Rs 2 lakh. The CBI will now investigate allegations of dowry death, harassment, conspiracy, and other possible offences in the case, the FIR stated.
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