Bhopal/New Delhi: The death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma at her matrimonial home in Bhopal has triggered a major controversy, with allegations of dowry harassment, institutional influence, and demands for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation intensifying after a local court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of her husband, advocate Samarth Singh.
Twisha, a Noida resident who had worked as an actor and model before joining a private company in Delhi, was found dead on the night of May 12 at her in-laws’ residence in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area, barely six months after her marriage to Samarth Singh on December 9, 2025. An FIR has been registered against Samarth and his mother, retired judge Giribala Singh, under provisions related to dowry death, dowry harassment, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act.
Additional Sessions Judge Pallavi Dwivedi on Monday rejected Samarth Singh’s anticipatory bail plea, observing that the death had occurred within six months of marriage under “unnatural circumstances” and that the allegations against him were serious.
The court noted that witness statements, the FIR, and WhatsApp chats submitted during proceedings pointed primarily towards Samarth. The judge held that, given the stage of investigation and gravity of accusations, granting anticipatory bail “would not be appropriate”.
Police say Samarth Singh has been on the run since the incident. Bhopal police have now announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to his arrest. His mobile phones are reportedly switched off, and multiple police teams are conducting searches. Meanwhile, Giribala Singh, a retired Bhopal district court judge who currently serves as head of the Bhopal Consumer Court, had earlier secured anticipatory bail.
The case has drawn widespread attention because of the accused family’s influential background. Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, has alleged that the probe is being compromised due to the family’s connections within the judiciary, police, and medical administration. He has claimed that senior officials are attempting to shield the accused and that his family has had difficulty even getting the FIR registered.
Navnidhi Sharma has now approached the Governor of Madhya Pradesh seeking intervention. He urged authorities to remove or suspend Giribala Singh from her quasi-judicial responsibilities pending the investigation.
According to Sharma, her continued position could indirectly influence investigators, witnesses, and forensic procedures. The petition invoked Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, demanding an impartial and transparent probe.
A major point of contention remains the circumstances leading to Twisha’s death. According to the defence version presented in court, Twisha had visited a beauty parlour and later gone for a walk on May 12 before returning home. The family claimed she was later found hanging from an iron rod on the terrace using an exercise resistance band, and that efforts were made to revive her before she was taken to AIIMS Bhopal.
Twisha’s family, however, has strongly disputed this account. They allege she was subjected to sustained mental and physical harassment over dowry demands and was pressured into terminating her pregnancy. Court records mention allegations that the accused questioned the paternity of her unborn child and repeatedly assaulted her.
The prosecution also cited WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by Twisha to her mother days before her death. In one message dated May 9, she purportedly wrote, “Maa aap mujhe yaha se lene aa jao kal please,” while another message described her life as “narak” and complained that her husband was no longer speaking to her.
The defence has denied all allegations, arguing that the WhatsApp messages were edited and unreliable.
Further controversy has emerged over the post-mortem examination. While the preliminary report cited death due to antemortem hanging, it also reportedly noted multiple blunt force injuries on Twisha’s body. Her family has refused to accept the body and is demanding a second autopsy at AIIMS Delhi, alleging that local authorities cannot ensure a fair investigation.
Meanwhile, Bhopal police have constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team headed by ACP Rajnish Kashyap to probe allegations of dowry harassment, assault, and destruction of evidence.
(IANS)
