The Bhopal Police have tripled the cash reward to ₹30,000 for information leading to the arrest of absconding lawyer Samarth Singh. He is wanted for the alleged dowry death of his 33-year-old wife, Twisha Sharma, a former model and actor who was found dead in her marital home on 12th May 2026. While Twisha’s family accuses Samarth and his mother a retired sessions judge of severe mental abuse and forced abortion, the defense claims Twisha struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues. In the latest developments, a Bhopal court rejected the family’s plea for a second autopsy, and the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken independent notice of the case, demanding an administrative report within seven days.
The tragic death of Twisha Sharma, an MBA graduate and former beauty pageant winner, has sparked widespread public concern and drawn political attention in Madhya Pradesh. Having met through a dating application, Twisha and Samarth married in December 2025. However, just six months later, her life came to an abrupt end when she was found hanging from an iron rod on the terrace of their house in Katara Hills, Bhopal. Preliminary medical reports from AIIMS Bhopal confirmed death by hanging but also noted simple, blunt-force injuries on her body, prompting an intensive investigation.
Escalating Criminal Charges and a Global Search
Following a formal complaint by the victim’s family, the Bhopal Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), invoking severe provisions including Section 80(2) for dowry death, Section 85 for cruelty by a husband or relatives, and Section 3(5) for joint criminal liability. While Samarth’s mother, retired judge Giribala Singh, managed to secure pre-arrest bail, a local sessions court flatly rejected Samarth’s anticipatory bail application, noting the severity of the allegations and the critical stage of the inquiry.
In response to his subsequent disappearance, law enforcement escalated the search into a global manhunt by establishing a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), initiating a Lookout Circular to prevent him from crossing international borders, and writing directly to the passport office to suspend his travel documents. To further incentivize public cooperation and break the deadlock, Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar officially cancelled the previous bounty and tripled the cash reward to ₹30,000 for any information leading directly to the fugitive advocate’s arrest.
The Defense Arguments
In the anticipatory bail application, the defense contended that the marriage faced severe strain due to Twisha’s reported reluctance to adopt the role of a housewife after discovering her pregnancy. They further claimed she suffered from clinical depression, psychiatric issues, and severe substance abuse, asserting that she had voluntarily terminated her pregnancy due to health dependencies. To counter financial harassment claims, the family presented bank records showing routine monetary transfers to Twisha.
The Family’s Testimonies
Twisha’s family has strongly rejected these characterisations, describing her as a confident, vibrant professional who worked with a German communications firm. They alleged that the marital abuse intensified after she lost her work-from-home job and became pregnant. According to her father, Navnidhi Sharma, Samarth questioned the child’s paternity and pressured Twisha into a forced termination.
The family also produced distressed WhatsApp messages from Twisha sent days before her death, including a final, anxious phone call on the evening of 12th May, during which she begged her mother to book a flight back to Noida.
Forensic Disputes and Political Interventions
The investigation faces additional friction regarding the handling of forensic material and the preservation of evidence. The SIT admitted there was a delay in submitting the ligature material found at the scene to medical experts. Fearing that the influential background of the groom’s family could compromise local investigations, Twisha’s parents refused to claim her body, instead petitioning for an independent second autopsy at AIIMS Delhi.
A Bhopal court dismissed the plea for a second autopsy, stating it lacked the territorial jurisdiction to order a medical procedure in New Delhi. The court also highlighted issues regarding body preservation, as AIIMS Bhopal noted that its current facilities lack the ultra-low temperature storage needed to prevent long-term tissue deterioration.
As public interest grew online, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stepped in. Following a meeting with the grieving parents, the Chief Minister assured them of a completely transparent inquiry and promised that the state government would officially request a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He also offered state resources to transport Twisha’s remains to Delhi should the family wish to pursue private independent consultations.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The tragic loss of Twisha Sharma reflects a deeply troubling reality within our society: the persistence of systemic domestic cruelty and dowry harassment, which continues to affect women regardless of their education, independence, or background. True justice relies entirely on institutional fairness, empathy, and an absolute absence of institutional bias or influence.
We hope that law enforcement acts swiftly, transparently, and thoroughly to uncover the absolute truth behind the circumstances that led to this tragedy. At the same time, we urge the public to avoid online trial by media and allow the judicial system to function cleanly. True social change begins when our communities foster open dialogues, reject regressive financial demands in marriages, and cultivate safe environments built on mutual respect, kindness, and emotional support.
