Twisha Sharma Death Case: Dowry Allegations, CBI Probe & Supreme Court Intervention

The high-profile Twisha Sharma case centers around the suspicious death of the 33-year-old former actor-model and MBA graduate at her matrimonial home in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on May 12, 2026. She was found dead just five to six months after her marriage in December 2025 to Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh. Twisha's family, including her father Navnidhi Sharma and other relatives, immediately alleged dowry harassment, mental and physical torture, and abetment to suicide by her husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, a retired district judge. The case quickly garnered national attention, escalating from a local police investigation into a high-profile matter involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Supreme Court of India. Initially, the Bhopal police registered an FIR against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh under relevant sections related to dowry death and abetment to suicide. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also constituted by the police. Concerns over procedural lapses and alleged institutional bias due to the mother-in-law's judicial background led to significant public outcry and political pressure. Twisha's family raised serious questions about the initial police probe, including allegations of botched evidence collection and tampering with CCTV footage. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the first post-mortem report. Consequently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed a second autopsy, which was conducted by a four-member team from AIIMS Delhi in Bhopal on May 24, 2026. In a major development, the Madhya Pradesh government recommended a CBI probe into the case on May 22, 2026, acceding to the family's persistent demands for an independent investigation. The CBI officially took over the investigation on May 25, 2026, re-registering the state police's FIR as its own case. Samarth Singh, who had reportedly been absconding for several days, was arrested on May 22, 2026, in Jabalpur and subsequently sent to police remand. Giribala Singh was initially granted anticipatory bail by a Bhopal court, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court later set aside this bail. The CBI then arrested her on May 28, 2026. Both Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh have been in judicial custody since their arrests. The Supreme Court of India took *suo motu* cognizance of the case, registering it as 'In Re Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the Unnatural Death of Young Woman at Matrimonial Home'. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard the matter, expressing anguish over allegations that the judiciary was protecting the accused. The Supreme Court urged both the families and the media to refrain from making public statements that could influence the ongoing investigation or prejudice the trial. Throughout the investigation, Twisha's in-laws have denied the allegations, claiming that Twisha suffered from depression and drug addiction. However, the CBI's probe, which included crime-scene reconstruction exercises, analysis of phone records, CCTV footage, medical records, and family statements, led to the filing of a 636-page chargesheet on August 17, 2026. The chargesheet accused Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh of abetment to suicide, mental cruelty, common intent, and demanding dowry, citing continuous mental harassment, financial pressure, character assassination, and a dispute over pregnancy termination as factors contributing to Twisha's death. Digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages from Twisha before her death, reportedly documented her distress. Despite the CBI's conclusion of abetment to suicide based on an AIIMS medical board confirming death by suicidal hanging, Twisha's family continues to maintain that she was murdered and demands further accountability. As of September 2026, Giribala Singh's bail application is being heard by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, with the CBI opposing her plea.

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