New Delhi : Supreme Court on Monday underscored the need for a “fair and impartial” probe into the death of former actor-model Twisha Sharma, while backing the Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Hearing the matter suo motu, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said an “independent agency” should take over the investigation in the interest of all parties involved.
The top court also referred to media report published on May 18, saying it had raised concerns about alleged institutional bias and discrepancies in the investigation. Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her family has accused her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, while the in-laws claimed she was battling drug addiction.
“A news article published by media on May 18 raised questions of institutional bias and discrepancies. The reason that was reported for the alleged lack of impartiality was that the husband of Twisha Sharma is a practising lawyer and the mother is a former district judge,” the Chief Justice observed. The court noted that questions had been raised over whether “undue influence” could be exercised during the investigation because of the background of the accused family.
When this case came up for hearing today in the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, remarked that “a divorced daughter is better than a dead one”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government in the case, appears to suggest that “a divorced daughter is better than a dead one”.
One thing is clear: that the woman lost her life. Whether it’s suicide or anything else… For parents the moral is better to have a divorced daughter than a dead one. So many messages by her… She was living in hell,” Mehta
Appreciating the state government’s move to hand over the case to the CBI, the Chief Justice said, “We appreciate the state’s decision to recommend a CBI investigation”. At this stage, in the interest of all, an independent agency should take over,” the bench observed, while adding that it had “no doubt” over the functioning of state agencies. We have no doubt that agencies will investigate properly. But a narrative is being created, so an independent agency should take over, the Chief Justice noted.
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