‘Delay forced us to violate Hindu traditions’: Twisha Sharma's family cries breach of 13-day ritual after death

BHOPAL: As dusk settled over Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat in Bhopal on Sunday, Major Harshit Sharma stepped forward to light the funeral pyre of his sister Twisha Sharma, bringing a close to a 12-day wait that her grieving family says robbed them not only of answers, but also of the chance to perform her last rites in accordance with Hindu traditions.

For nearly two weeks, Twisha’s body remained caught between post-mortem formalities, forensic procedures and an escalating legal battle.





By the time the cremation finally took place, the family says the customary 13-day mourning rituals central to Hindu beliefs had already been disrupted.



Twisha’s mother, Neelam Sharma, was seen overwhelmed with grief as she walked a short distance to the cremation ground, breaking down inconsolably.

Read more: Kin perform Twisha Sharma's last rites after 2nd autopsy; 3-judge Supreme Court bench to hear case today
Speaking after the cremation, Twisha’s father Navnidhi Sharma said the family had endured “unimaginable pain” during the prolonged wait but expressed hope that justice would prevail. He also thanked the Supreme Court for taking suo motu cognisance of the case, calling it a step that would restore faith in the system.

In a press statement released just hours before the cremation, the Sharma family detailed the agony of their long wait, noting that the delay forced them to violate deeply held Hindu traditions, which ordinarily dictate that post-death rituals be completed within a 13-day mourning period.

The cremation came shortly after a second post-mortem examination was conducted at AIIMS Bhopal by a specialised AIIMS Delhi medical team, which reportedly focused on preserving forensic evidence and reassessing injuries flagged by the family.

Officials said viscera and tissue samples have been preserved and sent for detailed toxicology and histopathology analysis in Delhi.

Doctors also examined multiple possible causes of death, including hanging, trauma and poisoning, while comparing findings with the earlier autopsy report. Police may also recreate the crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation, sources said.

Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her Katara Hills residence on May 12. While her in-laws have claimed suicide, her parents have alleged dowry harassment and murder. The case has since escalated into a high-profile legal battle, with the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance and a bench scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.