Samarth Singh informed the SIT that Twisha had been distressed after her abortion. He had earlier claimed that their relationship soured after the pregnancy.

Before handing the Bhopal ‘dowry death’ case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, the Madhya Pradesh police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Twisha Sharma ‘dowry’ death case questioned her husband, Samarth Singh, for over three hours, during which the lawyer reiterated to the investigators that the former model has become “distressed” following her abortion.

Twisha Sharma, a Noida-based former Miss Pune title holder, was allegedly found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12. While her in-laws and an autopsy report have claimed that she died by suicide, her family alleges foul play.

According to MP police sources quoted by news agency ANI, the SIT conducted a recreation of the crime scene, lasting over two hours, prior to which the SIT interrogated Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, for approximately three hours.

The quoted sources added that Samarth informed the SIT that Twisha had been distressed following her abortion. Earlier, he had claimed during previous rounds of questioning that their relationship had soured after Twisha learnt about her pregnancy, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

When questioned regarding his period of abscondence, Samarth repeatedly attempted to mislead the investigators, the ANI sources said. During the interrogation, he reiterated his claim of having given ₹7 lakh to Twisha.

The SIT has seized Samarth’s laptop, mobile phone, passport, Aadhaar card, and other key documents.

CBI takes over
The CBI on Monday registered an FIR in the case and formally took over the investigation after the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant handed over the probe to the central agency.

The CBI booked Twisha Sharma’s husband and her mother-in-law, former district judge Giribala Singh, invoking sections 80(2), 85, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita along with sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act, which were levelled by the state police as well.

Earlier in the day, the agency sent a Special Crime unit to Bhopal to take charge of the investigation and collect the necessary documents and evidence.

After the meeting, the CBI re-registered the state police FIR naming Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused in its own case, in accordance with the procedure.

The Bhopal police had registered the FIR two days after Twisha’s death.

What the state police FIR had alleged
The FIR alleged that Twisha’s husband, Samarth, brought her to the AIIMS, Bhopal, after she, her husband claimed, hanged herself at home at 10.20 pm on May 12.

Doctors at AIIMS informed the police on May 13 at 12.05 am that she was brought dead to the hospital, and a PMLC was registered, the FIR said.