Charges against husband and mother-in-law over Twisha Sharma's death

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally filed charges against the husband and mother-in-law of Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old former model and actress, in connection with her death in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. This mysterious death, which occurred within a very short period of five months after her marriage, caused a great stir across India. A charge sheet exceeding 600 pages has been submitted to the court against her husband, lawyer Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, under charges of abetment to suicide and inhumane mental harassment.

Twisha Sharma was an extremely popular model who won the 'Miss Pune' title in 2012 and appeared in advertisements for many leading brands such as Dove and L’Oréal. In addition, she acted in the Telugu film 'Mugguru Monagallu' and a Hindi short film. She held an MBA in Business Management, was a certified yoga instructor, and practiced Vipassana meditation. She led a very active life, holding high positions in communication and marketing fields at various international organizations. She was the daughter of a family from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, residing in Noida.

Twisha met Samarth Singh, a lawyer from Bhopal, through a mobile application in 2024. Subsequently, with the consent of both families, their wedding ceremony was held in December 2025. Samarth Singh is a graduate of the National Law School of India, and his mother, Giribala Singh, is a retired District and Sessions Judge. This marriage, connecting two families with high social status and legal backgrounds, was later revealed to be fraught with various disputes and conflicts from the outset.

Twisha's parents and brother allege that after her marriage, she was subjected to continuous dowry demands, financial pressure, and severe mental harassment from her husband and mother-in-law. Specifically, after Twisha became pregnant in April 2026, her husband and mother-in-law made false accusations against her character and questioned the paternity of the child. Furthermore, her family alleges that she was pressured to forcibly terminate her pregnancy (have an abortion) in early May 2026. Investigations revealed that Twisha's phone conversations and text messages with her mother and friends clearly showed the severe mental distress she endured and her strong desire to return to her parental home.

However, Giribala Singh, the mother-in-law, rejected all these allegations, stating that Twisha suffered from severe mental illness and that the decision to terminate the pregnancy was Twisha's own wish. Holding a press conference a few days after the death, her statements regarding Twisha's private life and mental health caused a great stir and criticism in society. Twisha's father stated that the defendants were attempting to cover up their wrongdoings by assassinating the character of his deceased daughter.

On the night of May 12, 2026, Twisha Sharma was found mysteriously dead at her marital home in Katara Hills, Bhopal. In her last WhatsApp message sent to her maternal aunt, Rashi Abrol, before her death, she stated to inform her husband to collect her remains and to allow her to die gracefully. Later, around 9:40 PM, security camera footage showed her going alone towards the upstairs terrace of the house, where she was found hanging with the aid of a gymnastics belt. She was already deceased when taken to the hospital.

At the request of Twisha's family, a second post-mortem examination was conducted on May 24 by a panel of expert doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, under an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The examination report confirmed that there were no external signs of assault or struggle on the body, and it was a suicide due to asphyxiation. Twisha's final rites were performed in Bhopal on May 24 by her brother, Major Harshit Sharma.

After a lengthy investigation into the incident, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the court that Twisha had no option but to end her life due to the continuous severe mental harassment and inhumane treatment inflicted by her husband and mother-in-law. Although sufficient evidence was not found during the investigations for some of the initial charges related to dowry harassment, her husband, Samarth Singh, and mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, are currently imprisoned under charges of abetment to suicide and mental torture. The CBI has requested permission from the court to file an additional charge sheet if new evidence emerges, and the case is currently undergoing legal proceedings.