Husband and mother-in-law charged over Indian bride's death
Twisha Sharma, a model and actor, had been married for just five months when she was found dead in May.
**Husband and Mother-in-Law Indicted in Indian Bride's May Death**
India's federal police have brought charges against the husband and mother-in-law of Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old model and actor, who was discovered deceased in her marital residence in May, a mere five months after her wedding.
Sharma's death on May 12 in Bhopal ignited a significant media frenzy, with the case dominating headlines daily amidst conflicting claims of murder and suicide.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a 600-page chargesheet accusing Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, of "abetment to suicide" and "cruelty." Both Samarth Singh, a lawyer, and Giribala Singh, a retired judge, have vehemently denied these allegations.
*Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing.*
The case has garnered exceptional public interest in India, largely due to the involvement of a retired judge, as members of the judiciary are widely expected to uphold exemplary conduct.
Twisha's parents and siblings have consistently alleged that she endured torture from Samarth and his mother over dowry demands and that her death was a murder. Conversely, Giribala Singh has dismissed these accusations as "baseless," asserting that Twisha suffered from mental health issues and took her own life. Samarth initially evaded authorities but later surrendered to the police. Giribala was arrested days later, and both mother and son remain in custody.
The CBI's chargesheet, submitted to the court last week, states, "Due to continuous mental cruelty at the hands of both the accused [Twisha's husband and mother-in-law], she was left with no option but to end her life."
Ankur Pandey, Twisha's family lawyer, informed BBC Hindi that the CBI's invocation of sections related to abetment to suicide indicates that the investigation considers the death to be an alleged suicide. He added that the CBI has requested court permission for further investigation, suggesting 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."
Inosh George Carlo, Giribala Singh's lawyer, 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."
Giribala Singh, the retired judge, faced criticism for publicly discussing Twisha's health issues.
Twisha, a model and actor, was crowned Miss Pune in 2012 after winning a beauty pageant in the western Indian city. She had appeared in numerous advertising campaigns and acted in a Telugu-language film. In recent years, she also worked as a marketing professional for private firms.
According to the chargesheet, Twisha and Samarth met through a dating app in February 2025 and married in December of the same year. The CBI's investigation, as detailed in the chargesheet, indicates that after their marriage, Samarth subjected Twisha to mental cruelty on multiple occasions, repeatedly using derogatory terms towards her. The chargesheet further states, "Giribala Singh would from time to time instigate her son to commit mental cruelty on Twisha."
Twisha's parental family claims that a significant point of contention between her and her in-laws arose in April when she became pregnant. They allege 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 Singh has denied these allegations, asserting that it was Twisha who insisted on the abortion, stating she did not desire children.
Days after Twisha's death, the former judge drew criticism for holding a press conference and giving media interviews where she discussed her daughter-in-law's mental health and described her as "liberal." When pressed by an interviewer to elaborate on the term, she used the word "promiscuity." These comments sparked widespread outrage, with Twisha's father condemning them as an attempt to tarnish his daughter's reputation.