Supreme Court Halts Trial in Twisha Sharma Death Case, Seeks Responses on Transfer Plea

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the ongoing trial in the death case of former model and actress Twisha Sharma before a Bhopal court and issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh on a petition seeking to shift the proceedings outside Madhya Pradesh, preferably to Delhi.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order on a transfer petition filed by Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, who has raised concerns about whether the case can be tried fairly in Madhya Pradesh.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Abhijeet Sinha argued that Giribala Singh, a former judge, was an influential figure in Bhopal, prompting apprehensions about the fairness of the proceedings. He also told the court that supporting material had been submitted in a sealed cover.

The petition seeks the transfer of the criminal proceedings to a competent court in Delhi, citing concerns over the initial investigation, the handling of bail applications and the possibility of a fair trial in Bhopal. Twisha’s father, who lives in the Delhi-NCR region, has argued that the case could be heard in the national capital.

The trial before the Bhopal Sessions Court had reached the stage of arguments on the framing of charges.

Twisha died at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, 2026, around five months after her marriage. Her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and mother-in-law, retired Principal District and Sessions Judge Giribala Singh, are accused in the case.

In his petition, Navnidhi Sharma questioned the handling of Giribala Singh’s bail applications, alleging that five courts dealt with the matter over five days and that three judges returned the file or recused themselves for different reasons.

The plea has also raised questions about the initial investigation, including the sealing of the terrace where Twisha died, the handling of ligature material during the first post-mortem examination and the alleged collection of CCTV footage by Giribala Singh.

The petitioner further referred to alleged incidents involving Twisha’s brother, a serving Army officer, at the Bhopal court premises on May 15, and the family’s counsel at the Jabalpur district court on May 22.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the case on May 25, after which the CBI assumed responsibility for the investigation. On August 14, the agency filed a 636-page charge sheet against the two accused, alleging cruelty, abetment of suicide and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The dowry-related aspect of the case remains under further investigation.

Seeking the transfer of the trial to Delhi, the petitioner has also cited the CBI investigation being conducted from the national capital, a second post-mortem examination by an AIIMS New Delhi medical board, forensic reports issued by CFSL Delhi, and the presence of the investigating officer and several witnesses in the National Capital Region.