Bhopal, June 30 (IANS) The father and brother of dowry death victim Twisha Sharma on Tuesday accused the police of following “somebody else’s orders” and “formulating a story” following alleged “contradictory” statements by the Madhya Pradesh Police Commissioner Kailash Makwana and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) regarding a purported burglary at the victim’s in-laws place.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Bhopal court declined to entertain an oral submission by the defence seeking permission for retired judge and accused Giribala Singh to visit her residence in connection with a recent burglary, saying that such a request could only be considered through a formal written application.

Speaking to IANS, Twisha’s brother Harshit Sharma said: “The burglary took place at the eleventh hour, and that too not only of jewellery but also of documents. Surprisingly, those members who were sleeping downstairs did not have a clue that thieves got inside the house and even broke metal almirah and metal lockers. These are not our inputs, but instead submitted by the defence lawyer.”

Taking a jibe at the police, Twisha’s brother added: “Earlier we considered them (police) incompetent for not lodging our FIR, tampering with evidence etc, but when you see the bigger picture, there are clearly competent efforts. They should be given an award for following orders without caring about their reputation.”

“In fact, the police reached the crime scence even before the robbery was committed and nabbed the thieves who were fleeing with documents. However, the statements that have been given by the Police Commissioner as well as by the ACP are contradictory,” he alleged.

“We still don’t know how many thieves were there and what all have they stolen and what has been seized. I think they need some time to formulate their story,” he remarked.

The victim’s brother said that since the system is “helping” the accused, the delivery of justice seems “challenging”.

“However, we are still hopeful,” he added.

Twisha’s father Navnidhi Sharma said that the robbery has been described by four different people, “first by the media, then by the ACP, the Commissioner of Police and finally by the advocate today during court hearing”.

“So, which one should we consider as genuine?” he asked.

Twisha’s father also added: “It is a strange robbery where thieves came to steal documents that too, in a way, under police surveillance because the police team was patrolling at that time.”

“The police caught the theives and later let them off,” he claimed.

Navnidhi Sharma demanded for a thorough probe into the matter.

Moreover, alleging “institutional bias”, Sharma also took a swipe at the police.

“Police are competent that is why they catch accused when they need to and also don’t arrest culprits when they don’t seem necessary. We have been wanting to know from day one that whose orders are they following,” he alleged.

He also demanded that the case be shifted to Delhi for “neutrality and transparency”.

–IANS

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