Husband and mother‑in‑law charged over Indian bride’s death
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 May just five months after her wedding.
Twisha Sharma’s death on 12 May in Bhopal sparked a huge media frenzy, with the case making headlines daily amid rival claims of murder and suicide.
In the chargesheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Twisha’s husband and mother‑in‑law have been charged with "abetment to suicide" and "cruelty".
Her husband Samarth Singh, a lawyer, and mother‑in‑law Giribala Singh, a retired judge, have denied the allegations against them.
Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing.
Twisha’s death has generated an extraordinary interest in India, as public perception holds that members of India's powerful judiciary are meant to lead by example.
Twisha’s parents and siblings alleged she was tortured by Singh and his mother over dowry demands and that she was murdered. Giribala called the accusations "baseless" and alleged Twisha had mental health issues and that she killed herself.
Samarth initially could not be located but later surrendered to police. Giribala was arrested a few days later, and the mother and son remain in jail.
"Due to continuous mental cruelty at the hands of both the accused, she was left with no option but to end her life," the CBI said in the 600‑page chargesheet submitted in court last week.
Twisha’s family lawyer Ankur Pandey told BBC Hindi that since the CBI has invoked sections related to abetment to suicide, "it means that the investigation has considered the death to be an alleged suicide".
He said the CBI has sought permission from the court for further investigation, saying that "if new evidence emerges during the investigation, the role of some more people can be investigated and, if needed, a supplementary chargesheet can be filed".
Giribala Singh's lawyer Inosh George Carlo told the BBC, "The investigation has found no evidence of the earlier allegations of dowry harassment and murder... We have been saying this from the beginning but the media never listened to us."
In 2012, Twisha was crowned Miss Pune after winning a beauty pageant in the western Indian city. She featured in advertising campaigns and acted in a Telugu‑language film. In recent years, she also worked as a marketing professional with private firms.
According to the chargesheet, Twisha met Samarth through a dating app in February 2025 and they married in December.
The CBI noted that after their marriage, Samarth subjected Twisha to mental cruelty on several occasions and repeatedly used derogatory terms towards her. "Giribala Singh would from time to time instigate her son to commit mental cruelty on Twisha," it added.
Twisha’s parental family noted the biggest friction occurred in April after she became pregnant. They alleged that "her husband and mother‑in‑law questioned her character and accused her of carrying someone else’s baby" and forced her to undergo an abortion in the first week of May.
Giribala said the accusations were "baseless" and that Twisha herself insisted on the abortion because she did not want children.
In a press conference following Twisha’s death, Giribala discussed her daughter‑in‑law’s mental health and called her "liberal", later describing "promiscuity" to justify the word. Her comments led to outrage; Twisha’s father said the remarks aimed to tarnish his daughter’s name.
