From Twisha’s Family Moving HC to Husband’s Fresh Court Appeal - Top Developments

The Twisha Sharma death case in Bhopal has escalated into a multi-layered legal battle, with her family approaching the High Court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Twisha's Mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, in the high-profile death case. The family has alleged influence over the investigation and postmortem process and is demanding a deeper probe into the case. Twisha's father, Navnidhi Sharma, told PTI that: "I have full faith in the judiciary, and I am sure that my daughter will get justice." On the other hand, Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, is also moving HC to challenge a lower court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea. Samarth Singh claimed in his pre-arrest bail petition before the High Court that he and his family cooperated

with the investigation, and no custodial interrogation was required as substantial material had already been seized. WhatsApp chats submitted by the complainant were "edited and incomplete" and could not be relied upon, it said.

Twisha, a Noida woman who is alleged to have been harassed for dowry, was found dead on the night of May 12 at her marital home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area. An FIR was registered against Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after Twisha’s family accused them of mental harassment, emotional abuse, and dowry-related cruelty.

Here are the top 5 developments in the case:

1. Samarth Singh Moves Madhya Pradesh High Court For Anticipatory BailTwisha Sharma’s husband, Samarth Singh, has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging the sessions court order that rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Samarth argued that the lower court wrongly denied him relief despite granting anticipatory bail to his mother, Giribala Singh in the same case. Police have already declared Samarth absconding and announced a reward in connection with the investigation.

2. Twisha’s Family To Challenge Giribala Singh’s BailTwisha Sharma’s family is now preparing to challenge the anticipatory bail granted to mother-in-law Giribala Singh, who currently chairs the Bhopal Consumer Court, before the High Court. Advocate Ankur Pandey, representing Twisha Sharma’s family, said they would challenge the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh, arguing that the subordinate court ignored key evidence and provisions under Section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. The provision states that if a woman dies under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage and evidence shows she faced dowry-related cruelty shortly before her death, the court shall presume that the husband or his relatives caused the dowry death.

3. Police Issue Lookout Notice For Samarth Singh, Seek Passport RevocationAmid criticism over alleged lapses in the investigation, the Madhya Pradesh Police has intensified efforts to trace the absconding accused Samarth Singh. Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said police have increased the reward against Samarth to Rs 30,000 and issued a Lookout Circular to alert immigration authorities at airports, seaports and border checkpoints to prevent him from leaving the country. Police have also approached a local court seeking revocation of Samarth Singh’s passport, with the matter scheduled for hearing on May 23.

4. MP Government Orders Inquiry Against Giribala SinghThe Madhya Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry against Giribala Singh following the registration of an FIR in the alleged dowry harassment case. In an official communication dated May 20, the government directed the Registrar of the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to conduct a probe under Rule 9(2) of the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020, and submit a report at the earliest. The FIR registered at Katara Hills Police Station includes charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.5. Family Seeks Sealing Of Digital Evidence, Pushes For Second PostmortemTwisha Sharma’s family has approached a judicial magistrate seeking a second postmortem at AIIMS Delhi, alleging concerns over transparency and possible misuse of influence in the investigation. The family also demanded immediate forensic protection and lawful sealing of critical digital evidence, including Call Detail Records (CDR), tower location data, IP logs, WhatsApp chats, emails, cloud metadata, CCTV coordination records, call recordings and server logs, claiming these records could be crucial in establishing the sequence of events surrounding her death.Twisha Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home here on May 12. Her family accused her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, while the Singh family claimed she was addicted to drugs. Police registered an FIR under Sections 80(2) (dowry death), 85 (husband or relatives of the husband subjecting married woman to cruelty) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act against Samarth Singh and his mother.