Bhopal, May 19 (IANS) Eight days after 31-year-old woman and former model Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws’ house in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, her mortal remains are still at AIIMS Bhopal as her family refuses to perform the last rites, citing lapses in the post-mortem and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

While the police claimed to have intensified the investigation into the alleged suicide and are searching for her absconding husband Samarth Singh, families from both sides continued to level allegations and counter-allegations on Tuesday.

Twisha Sharma’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, alleged that the family of the accused was influential and capable of exerting pressure on the system, while asserting that his grieving family was being subjected to “continuous public attacks and narratives”.

Issuing a detailed public statement on Tuesday, Navnidhi Sharma said his family had repeatedly expressed apprehensions before authorities regarding the influence allegedly wielded by persons connected with Twisha’s mother-in-law and retired judge Giribala Singh’s family.

“From the very first day, our family has consistently expressed apprehension before authorities that the accused persons connected with the Giribala Singh’s family are highly influential and capable of exerting pressure upon the system, public opinion, and investigation machinery,” he added.

Notably, after lapses in the post-mortem, Twisha’s family has demanded an investigation by an independent agency outside Madhya Pradesh and a second post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi. Due to this, even eight days after the death, the family is unwilling to accept the body and perform the last rites, Twisha’s father told IANS on Monday.

On the other hand, Giribala Singh on Tuesday levelled fresh allegations against her deceased daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma.

She claimed the post-mortem report was prepared solely to create sensationalism.

“Twisha was nice to me on my face, but would instantly deny doing basic household chores,” Giribala said while talking to media at her residence.

She also questioned Twisha’s lifestyle and freedom of movement, alleging that she frequently went out without informing the family where she was headed.

“Twisha was outgoing and would not tell us where she was going,” Giribala alleged.

Giribala’s advocate earlier on Monday told a district court that they have no objection to a second post-mortem or an investigation by any agency.

Twisha Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, barely five months after marrying advocate Samarth Singh and since then her husband Samarth has been absconding.

The Bhopal police have issued a lookout notice against him and initiated proceedings to get his passport revoked.

–IANS

pd/khz