The Supreme Court on Friday stayed further proceedings before the Bhopal trial court in the death case of former actor and model Twisha Sharma and issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the two accused on a plea by her father, Navnidhi Sharma, seeking transfer of the trial to Delhi.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed the respondents to file their replies within two weeks and ordered that the proceedings before the Bhopal court remain stayed until further orders. The Court will examine the plea seeking transfer of the case to a competent court in the national capital.
Navnidhi Sharma has approached the Supreme Court under Section 446 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking the transfer of the ongoing sessions trial from the court of the Tenth District and Additional Sessions Judge in Bhopal to Delhi. He had also filed a separate application seeking suspension of the trial while the transfer petition was pending.
The plea names Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, as the accused in the case. Giribala Singh is a retired district judge who had served as Principal District and Sessions Judge in Bhopal. The petitioner has expressed apprehension that the accused’s local influence and professional connections could affect the fairness of the proceedings.
Twisha, 33, was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, 2026. The case was initially investigated by the Madhya Pradesh Police before the CBI took over the probe following the State government’s recommendation. The agency subsequently filed a chargesheet against the two accused.
The transfer plea raises concerns over the circumstances surrounding the investigation and the conduct of proceedings in Bhopal. According to the petitioner’s legal team, the apprehension of prejudice is heightened by Giribala Singh’s former judicial position in the same sessions division where the case is being tried.
The plea also refers to concerns regarding the initial investigation, including the time taken to register the FIR and the handling of evidence from the place where Twisha was found. These are allegations advanced by the petitioner and remain subject to judicial scrutiny.
The family has also cited incidents allegedly involving members of the legal fraternity during proceedings in Bhopal. The petitioner argues that shifting the trial to Delhi would help ensure that the case proceeds in an atmosphere free from apprehensions of local influence and would reinforce public confidence in the administration of justice.
The CBI has been investigating the matter since May 2026. The probe has included a second post-mortem examination conducted by a medical board from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, as well as forensic examination of relevant evidence.
The Supreme Court’s interim stay will remain in force pending further orders as it considers whether the trial should be transferred. The issuance of notice does not indicate that the Court has accepted the allegations in the transfer petition; the respondents will have an opportunity to present their positions before the Court decides the matter.
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