A special CBI court in Bhopal on Tuesday remanded Twisha Sharma’s husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired district judge Giribala Singh, to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the alleged dowry death of the 33-year-old woman.
The accused were produced before the court after the expiry of their five-day custodial interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Since the investigating agency did not seek any further custodial remand, the court directed that the duo be sent to judicial custody.
The case pertains to the death of Twisha Sharma, who was found dead at her matrimonial residence in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on May 12. Following her death, an FIR was registered alleging dowry harassment, cruelty and dowry death. The case has been registered under Sections 80(2) (dowry death), 85 (cruelty by husband or relatives), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, relating to giving or taking dowry and demand for dowry.
The prosecution’s case is based on allegations made by Twisha’s family, who have accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to persistent harassment and cruelty in connection with dowry demands, ultimately leading to her death. The family has also alleged abetment and continuous mental harassment during her marriage.
Twisha, a former model and actor from Noida, married Samarth Singh, an advocate and the son of retired district judge Giribala Singh, in December 2025. After the marriage, she began residing with her husband’s family in Bhopal.
The matter attracted significant public attention after Twisha’s family questioned the fairness of the initial police investigation and demanded an independent probe. They also objected to what they described as a posthumous character assassination of the deceased during public statements made by the accused.
The investigation initially commenced with the Madhya Pradesh Police. On May 15, an FIR was formally registered against Samarth Singh and his mother. On the same day, a trial court granted anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh. However, the husband remained absconding.
Subsequently, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the police to conduct a detailed investigation into the allegations. Twisha’s family also staged a protest outside the Chief Minister’s official residence and sought a meeting with him, demanding an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
On May 18, a sessions court rejected Samarth Singh’s anticipatory bail application. The police thereafter announced a reward for information leading to his arrest, which was later enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000.
As public pressure mounted, Twisha’s family met the Chief Minister and sought transfer of the investigation to the CBI. They also requested a second post-mortem examination, although the plea was rejected by the competent court. The State Government subsequently initiated discussions regarding handing over the case to the central agency.
Meanwhile, the police issued multiple notices to Giribala Singh requiring her participation in the investigation. Samarth Singh also moved a fresh bail plea during this period.
On May 22, Samarth Singh was taken into custody by the police from the premises of the Jabalpur District Court after he appeared there with the intention of surrendering, according to his counsel.
Separately, the legality of the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh became the subject of challenge before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Both the State Government and Twisha Sharma’s parents questioned the trial court’s decision, arguing that the allegations warranted custodial investigation. On May 27, the High Court set aside the anticipatory bail granted to the former judicial officer, holding that the relief was not justified in the facts and circumstances of the case.
Before the High Court, it was pointed out that the trial court had granted anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh primarily on the ground that the FIR and WhatsApp communications relied upon by the prosecution were directed principally against her son. However, the High Court found sufficient grounds to interfere with the order and quashed the protection earlier granted to her.
The husband had also unsuccessfully sought anticipatory bail before the trial court. After his application was rejected, he approached the High Court but subsequently withdrew the petition with liberty to surrender before the competent court.
The investigation is now being conducted by the CBI. As part of the ongoing probe, agency officials recently reconstructed the events surrounding Twisha Sharma’s death at the matrimonial home. Investigators used a sand-filled dummy weighing approximately 80 kilograms, along with iron dumbbells attached to its feet, to recreate the physical circumstances and assess the prosecution’s theory regarding the manner of death.
The reconstruction exercise forms part of the agency’s forensic and evidentiary assessment aimed at determining the exact circumstances leading to Twisha Sharma’s death. The CBI is continuing its investigation into allegations of dowry harassment, cruelty and dowry death, while both accused remain in judicial custody.
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