Bhopal

Bhopal Police on Tuesday confirmed that the Central Bureau of Investigation has formally commenced its investigation into the death case of Twisha Sharma.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Sharma said local police officials had met with the CBI team and that the process of officially transferring the case was currently underway.

“The CBI has started its investigation at its own level, and the procedure for handing over the case is in progress,” Sharma told ANI.

As part of the probe, a CBI team visited the residence of Samarth Singh, the husband of Twisha Sharma, to gather evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the case.

The development follows directions issued by the Supreme Court of India, which ordered the CBI to take over the investigation and conduct an expeditious inquiry.

Following the court’s order, the CBI re-registered the FIR that had originally been lodged at Katara Hills Police Station in Bhopal and formally assumed control of the investigation from the city police.

The Supreme Court issued the directive after hearing multiple legal proceedings connected to the case that were pending before the trial court, the High Court and the apex court itself.

After considering arguments presented by the victim’s family, the accused and the state government, the bench directed that the matter be investigated by the CBI.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that a public perception was emerging that a fair investigation or trial might not be possible because one of the accused, Samarth Singh, belongs to the legal fraternity and his mother is a former judicial officer.

The court noted that such concerns had prompted it to initiate suo motu proceedings in the matter.

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The apex court also directed both the victim’s family and the accused’s family to refrain from giving interviews to the media in order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.