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Twisha Sharma death: husband remains absconding as families trade charges
Twisha Sharma death: husband remains absconding as families trade charges Sharma’s family demands second independent post-mortem due to suspicions of tampering with the first report; accuse Ms. Singh of “character assassination”, refute her claims regarding Sharma’s mental healthUpdated…
Twisha Sharma death: husband remains absconding as families trade charges
Sharma’s family demands second independent post-mortem due to suspicions of tampering with the first report; accuse Ms. Singh of “character assassination”, refute her claims regarding Sharma’s mental health
Updated – May 19, 2026 10:48 pm IST – Bhopal
Parents and family members of Twisha Sharma, who died by suicide alleging dowry harassment by her husband and in-laws, at the district court during a hearing, in Bhopal on May 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Samarth Singh, the husband of model Twisha Sharma who recently died in Bhopal allegedly by suicide, remained absconding in a dowry harassment case. Both the Sharma and Singh families traded charges about what may have led the 33-year-old to take her own life, and the model’s kin demanded a second independent post-mortem examination.
Mr. Singh, a lawyer and the son of retired judge Giribala Singh who is also an accused in the case, has been at large since an FIR was lodged on May 15. The police have announced a reward of ₹10,000 for information about him. On Monday, a local court had also rejected his plea for an anticipatory bail, thought it had been earlier granted to his mother, Ms. Singh.
Sharma was found in her home in the Katara Hills area on the night of May 12. She was taken to hospital and declared brought dead, prompting doctors from AIIMS, Bhopal to alert the police. Based on allegations by Sharma’s family, an FIR was lodged against her husband and mother-in-law.
‘Character assassination’
Sharma’s sister-in-law Rashi Sharma accused Ms. Giribala Singh of “character assassination and attempts to defame the deceased”, denying her claims about the deceased’s mental health. The Sharma family has also moved a local court demanding a second independent post-mortem examination suspecting that the report of the first test “may be tampered with due to the influence of the accused family”.
“We are planning to move the High Court soon to seek an independent postmortem. We also demand that the SIT [special investigation team formed by Bhopal Police Commissioner] probe should be monitored by the court,” Ms. Rashi Sharma said, adding that her sister-in-law’s body continues to be in a mortuary as the family has refused to perform last rites until she gets justice.
‘Irresponsible conduct’
On Monday, Ms. Singh held a press conference in Bhopal claiming that her late daughter-in law had undergone an abortion days before her death, and had been dealing with mental illness and an addiction to contraband substances like marijuana.
“She went for psychiatric counselling also, and medicines were prescribed to her, which are given to a schizophrenic patient… She would remain stable for a day or so, but then again, there would be a slight change in her condition. We observed some physical symptoms, a slight trembling in her hands, which is typical of withdrawal symptoms,” she said, accusing Sharma of consuming marijuana during pregnancy.
Defending her son, Ms. Singh said, “Girls take this step and hang themselves. Irresponsible conduct. Boys aren’t able to do that so they are treated as criminals.”
She also had harsh words for her daughter-in-law’s family. “Twisha’s parents pushed her into the glamour world at an early age and later disowned her. They never came to see her during the last five months except for once. They were earning because of her looks and are now not allowing her cremation,” she said, accusing the Sharma family of “trying to earn mileage” from the death.
‘Interference with justice’
The Sharma family also held a press conference with various ex-servicemen on Tuesday, accusing Ms. Singh of indulging in “public vilification and character assassination”.
“A deceased daughter cannot return from the grave to answer allegations being publicly circulated against her,” said her father Navnidhi Sharma. “Such repeated media interventions by persons connected with the accused side during an active investigation are not merely insensitive and unethical, but raise serious legal concerns regarding interference with the administration of justice, influencing of witnesses, creation of prejudice in the public mind, and attempts to divert attention from the core issues under investigation.”
The Sharma family had earlier accused the local police of not cooperating with them, and being in “bonhomie with the accused family due to their influence”.
SIT search for husband
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Misrod, Rajnish Kashyap, who is leading the six-member SIT, said that multiple teams have been formed to search for and nab Mr. Singh.
“Our SIT team, along with local teams, is actively engaged. We are gathering intelligence through both technical means and human sources. Several teams have been deployed to catch the accused Samarth Singh,” he said, adding that the SIT has also written to senior authorities regarding a lookout notice against him.
Published – May 19, 2026 09:29 am IST
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Prateek Tanmay