In brief
Twisha Sharma, a 33‑year‑old model and actor, was found dead in her Bhopal home just five months after marrying lawyer Samarth Singh. Federal police have charged Samarth and his mother‑in‑law, retired judge Giribala Singh, with abetment to suicide and cruelty. Allegations over dowry, mental abuse and a disputed abortion claim fuel intense media scrutiny and conflicting narratives. The case raises questions about Indian judiciary norms, women's rights and the intersection of public perception with legal investigations.
India’s federal police have filed charges in the case of a 33‑year‑old model and actor who was found dead in her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May, five months after her wedding.
The case has dominated headlines since the death, with rival claims of murder and suicide. In the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet, Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh – a lawyer – and his mother‑in‑law Giribala Singh, a retired judge, are accused of abetment to suicide and cruelty.
Twisha was crowned Miss Pune in 2012, appeared in advertising campaigns, acted in a Telugu film and worked in marketing. She met Samarth through a dating app in February 2025 and married in December. The CBI alleges that after their marriage Samarth committed repeated mental cruelty and that Giribala “instigated” him to do the same.
When Twisha became pregnant in April, her in‑laws allegedly questioned her character and forced her to undergo an abortion in early May, according to her family. Giribala denied the accusations, claiming Twisha insisted on the abortion because she did not want children. Samarth was missing for a period but later surrendered to police; Giribala was arrested a few days later, and both remain in custody.
The CBI’s 600‑page chargesheet states that continuous mental cruelty left Twisha with no option but to end her life. Twisha’s family lawyer, Ankur Pandey, said the invocation of abetment to suicide sections signals the investigation treating her death as an alleged suicide. He added that the investigation can file a supplementary chargesheet if new evidence arises.
Giribala’s lawyer, Inosh George Carlo, noted that the investigation found no evidence of dowry harassment or murder, and contested media narratives that had never heard the in‑law’s side.
In a controversial press conference, Giribala publicly discussed Twisha’s mental health and referred to her as a “liberal,” describing “promiscuity” when questioned, which sparked outrage from Twisha’s father and strangers to press the need for respect and privacy.
Public perception holds Indian judiciary members in high regard; the case has become a focal point for discussions on women’s rights, mental health, and the responsibilities of those in power. The CBI has called for court permission to continue the investigation; if new evidence surfaces, more people could be scrutinised.
