Twisha Sharma’s death: husband remains on the run as families trade accusations
Samarth Singh, husband of model Twisha Sharma, who died in Bhopal recently in an alleged suicide, remained absconding in a dowry harassment case. The Sharma and Singh families have traded accusations about what may have led the 33-year-old woman to take her own life, and the model’s relatives have demanded a second independent autopsy.
Mr. Singh, a lawyer and son of retired judge Giribal Singh, who is also an accused in the case, has been at large since the FIR was filed on May 15. The police have offered a reward of ₹10,000 for information about him. On Monday, the local court also rejected his application for anticipatory bail, believing that it was earlier granted to his mother, Ms Singh.
Sharma was found at her home in the Katara Hills area on the night of May 12. She was rushed to a hospital and declared brought dead, prompting doctors at AIIMS, Bhopal to alert the police. Based on the allegations of 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 Giribal Singh of “character assassination and attempts to defame the deceased”, denying her claims about the deceased’s mental health. The Sharma family also requested the local court for a second independent post-mortem, suspecting that the first test report “may be manipulated due to the influence of the accused family”.
“We plan to move the Supreme Court soon to ask for an independent post-mortem. We also demand that the SIT (special investigation team formed by the Bhopal police commissioner) investigation be monitored by the court,” Ms Rashi Sharma said, adding that her sister-in-law’s body remained in the mortuary as the family refused to perform the last rites until justice was served.
“Irresponsible behavior”
On Monday, Ms Singh held a press conference in Bhopal where she claimed her late daughter-in-law had an abortion days before her death and was struggling with mental illness and an addiction to contraband substances such as marijuana.
“She also had a psychiatric consultation and was prescribed medication that is given to a schizophrenic patient… She would remain stable for about a day, but again there would be a slight change in her condition. We observed some physical symptoms, a slight tremor in the hands, which is typical of withdrawal symptoms,” she said, accusing Sharma of consuming marijuana during pregnancy.
Defending her son, Mrs Singh said: “Girls take this step and hang themselves. Irresponsible behaviour. Boys are not capable of that so they are treated like criminals.”
She also had harsh words for her daughter-in-law’s family. “Twisha’s parents pushed her into the world of magic at an early age and later disowned her. They never came to see her except for one in the last five months. They made money for her looks and now they are not allowing her to be cremated,” she said, accusing the Sharma family of “trying to gain mileage” from death.
‘interference with justice’
The Sharma family also held a press conference with various ex-servicemen on Tuesday where they accused Ms Singh of “public defamation and character assassination”.
“The deceased daughter cannot come back from the grave to answer the allegations that are being circulated against her publicly,” said her father Navnidhi Sharma. “Such repeated media interference by persons associated with the accused party during an active investigation is not only insensitive and unethical, but raises serious legal concerns of interfering with the administration of justice, influencing witnesses, creating prejudice in public opinion and trying to divert attention from the main 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 because of their influence.
SIT looking for husband
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACP), Misrod, Rajnish Kashyap, who is heading the six-member SIT, said several teams had been formed to search and nab Mr. Singh.
“Our SIT team along with local teams are actively involved. We are gathering intelligence through technical means as well as human resources. Several teams have been deployed to nab the accused Samarth Singh,” he said, adding that the SIT has also written to higher authorities about alerting him.
Published – 19 May 2026 09:29 IST