Noida Woman's Death in Bhopal: Dowry, Harassment Allegations

Twisha Sharma, a 31-year-old woman originally from Noida, was discovered dead at her husband's residence in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on Tuesday night, May 12, 2026, just five months after her marriage. Her death has sparked serious allegations from her family, who claim she was subjected to severe mental harassment, domestic violence, and persistent dowry demands by her husband and in-laws. Twisha had married Bhopal-based advocate Samarth Sharma in December 2025 after meeting him on a dating application in 2024. Her father-in-law is identified as a retired judge, and her mother-in-law is also a former judicial officer, adding a significant dimension to the high-profile case. The preliminary post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death as "antemortem hanging by ligature" and also noted the presence of multiple antemortem injuries on her body, further raising suspicions about the circumstances of her demise. Her family has vehemently rejected the idea of suicide, asserting that the injuries indicate foul play and physical abuse. A critical aspect of the family's allegations is that Twisha, who was approximately two months pregnant at the time of her death, was allegedly pressured by her husband and in-laws to terminate her pregnancy against her wishes. Her brother, Major Harshit Sharma of the Indian Army, stated that Twisha had expressed her desire to continue with the pregnancy but faced immense coercion. The family also claims that Twisha was pressured to transfer shares and investments worth Rs 20 lakh to her husband and his parents as part of ongoing dowry harassment. According to her family, Twisha had been experiencing significant mental and emotional distress since her marriage. She had reportedly left her job after moving to Bhopal to live with her husband, but disputes arose when her in-laws and husband allegedly pressured her to find another job. Her brother also revealed that Twisha had called him shortly before her death, conveying the intense pressure she was under. She had even booked a railway ticket to return to Noida, indicating her intention to leave Bhopal and stay with her family, but tragically died before she could do so. Upon learning of the incident, Twisha's grieving family traveled from Noida to Bhopal, demanding a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband and in-laws. Initially, they refused to accept her body after the post-mortem until a murder case was registered and her husband was arrested, alleging that police were delaying action due to the influential status of the in-laws. The family further accused Samarth Sharma and his mother of disappearing for nearly an hour after taking Twisha to the hospital, only to return home and allegedly tamper with evidence. Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar has assured the family that the matter is being investigated impartially and transparently. Officials confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the scene. The investigation, being handled by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)-level official, is examining all evidence carefully, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings. Twisha Sharma was reportedly a bright individual, having been crowned Miss Pune 2012, and had previously worked in films and with a multinational company after completing her MBA, before her marriage. The case highlights the persistent issue of dowry-related violence and harassment against women in India, especially affecting newly married women. It is important to note that while some early reports or references might have incorrectly mentioned the victim as 'Deepika Tripathi' (as seen in one of the related articles provided), all credible and detailed news reports consistently identify the deceased as Twisha Sharma. Searches for 'Deepika Tripathi Bhopal death' lead to unrelated celebrity news, further confirming this discrepancy. The primary article from The Times of India, while initially using 'Noida woman,' also corroborates the details of 'daughter-in-law of retired judge' and the timeline, with subsequent reports from Times Now, India Today, and others using the name Twisha Sharma.

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