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Observing that it was pained by the handling of the case, the Supreme Court on Monday (May 25, 2026) asked the media to exercise restraint while reporting developments in the death of former model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said it will ensure that the investigation is fair, independent, and impartial investigation in the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, submitted that significant progress in the case had been made due to media intervention. He said the case was a message for all parents that it is better to have a divorced daughter than face such an unfortunate incident.
Sharma (33) was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on the night of May 12. The actor-model had married Samarth Singh, a lawyer, on December 25 last year. Her family has levelled allegations of mental harassment and financial demands against Mr. Singh and his mother. The top court’s intervention comes amid mounting allegations by Sharma’s family regarding the manner in which the probe into her death was handled. The family has alleged procedural lapses, institutional bias, and tampering with evidence, while also seeking scrutiny of phone records and other material connected to the case.
(With inputs from agencies)
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A CBI team is on its way to Bhopal to formally take over the investigation into the death of Twisha Sharma, say agency sources.
- Devesh K. Pandey.
In its order, the Supreme Court says that it has not expressed any remarks on the merits of the allegations, and left it to the probe agencies to unearth the truth.
“We have not expressed any opinion with respect to the rights and privileges of both parties, which they are entitled to seek before the appropriate forum,” the order reads.
- Krishnadas Rajagopal
In it’s order, the Supreme Court impresses upon the families of the victim and the accused that instead of making statements in public and media, they should get their version recorded before the probe agencies.
The court also asks media to avoid recording statements of persons who are likely to be potential witnesses/accused and unnecessarily prejudge outcome on certain issues which have to be probed.
The order also asks members of public that they should refrain from speculation and ought to have trust and faith in the premier probe agency
- Krishnadas Rajagopal
In its order, the Supreme Court says that the State govt has already decided to transfer the case to the CBI, and notes the Solicitor General’s assurance to fast-track the handover.
The Chief Justice says that CBI must make an endeavour to complete the probe promptly.
-- Krishnadas Rajagopal
The CJI-led Bench, dictating the order, notes there were reports alleging a “situational bias” affecting the State Police probe.
The reason alleged in these reports for the ‘impartiality’ was that the husband was a practising lawyer and the mother-in-law was a retired District Judge. The victim family had alleged undue influence on the probe officer. A narrative was created that a fair investigation was denied on the account of the involvement of the judiciary. It was under this situation that the suo motu cognisance was taken, the order reads.
The Supreme Court recalls that the Madhya Pradesh HC had on May 22 directed a second autopsy to clear doubts about the reason for the death and to boost the confidence of parties in the fairness of the probe. The SG intervenes to point out that an AIIMS team flew from Delhi to conduct the autopsy in Bhopal, while Sr. Advocate Dave says that the second postmortem report is awaited.
- Krishnadas Rajagopal
With no prejudice to both sides, one thing that cannot be denied is a woman is dead, whether she took her life or her life was taken by a criminal act, the Solicitor General says.
“For parents the moral is it is better to have a divorced daughter than a dead daughter,” he adds.
“In general for the parents, better to take the call immediately rather than losing the daughter,” says the Solicitor General
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the for the mother-in-law says that statements of the mother in law was recorded twice.
Meanwhile, Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra for Twisha’s family submits there was a three-day delay to register the FIR. There is a failure to preserve the evidence.
The Chief Justice interjects saying “we have to be careful as a court.”
“The investigation is on. But we would ensure that the case is fairly, impartially investigated. Our request to you [both victim and accused sides] is that whatever statements you want to make don’t go to the media, but to the competent authorities,” the Chief Justice adds.
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
We absolutely had faith in the State Police, but the State government itself has requested CBI probe, the Chief Justice says. He adds that the moment a narrative started getting created, the State sought a CBI probe. “This is an absolutely above the board step.”
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
Adding to the CJI’s comments on a certain narrative being set around the judiciary’s handling of the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says the narrative started because one of the potential accused, the mother-in-law, “had started giving interviews hopping from one channel to another, almost maligning the deceased.”
The FIR was registered on May 15, the SG informs the court, adding that the mother-in-law moved for anticipatory bail on May 14 and got it the next day. “This is under challenge. Despite our repeated requests to her to get her statement recorded, there is no cooperation. We had intimated her that we would come there and record her statement. She declined.”
“We could only seize the mobile devices with difficulty. Investigation is on so I would not like to prejudice the case,” the Solicitor General adds.
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
While hearing the suo motu case, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made note of reports that since the accused mother-in-law is a retired District Judge, the judiciary does not want a fair trial. “This is unfortunate to hear.”
“We do not want to cause aspersion against anyone. We are fully confident that both victim and accused sides would cooperate with the investigation, that the agencies would do their job and take it to a logical conclusion,” he said adding that “a narrative is being created.”
“It is good that the CBI takes over.”
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
The CJI-led Supreme Court bench on Monday (May 25, 2026), restrained potential witnesses and accused in the Twisha Sharma death case from giving statements to media.
Earlier, counsel for the accused had also assured the Supreme Court that the former Judge (one of the accused) will not make statements to media on probe.
- PTI
During the suo motu hearing on the Twisha Sharma death case, the CJI-led Supreme Court bench also made note of the media coverage the case has been receiving.
The bench urged media to observe restraint while reporting developments, and urged them not paint a picture of the investigation and case based on the statements drawn from the families of the victim and the accused. “Let the investigation take its course,” the Bench said.
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
Terming Twisha Sharma’s death as “unfortunate”, the Supreme Court stressed the need for fair and impartial probe in matter.
The CJI-led bench also noted that probe into the case has been recommended to be conducted by CBI. “We are in pain because of some of the actions, let things move as per law and procedure,” the bench said.
- PTI
The CJI-led bench hailed the Madhya Pradesh High Court for promptly ordering second autopsy of model-actor Twisha Sharma.
The second autopsy was conducted a day earlier on the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Sharma’s family had raised doubts over the first post-mortem conducted by doctors of AIIMS Bhopal where the accused mother-in-law Giribala Singh’s sister is a senior doctor, and stuck to their demand of a second impartial examination.
The bench, also commended the Madhya Pradesh government for giving the case to the CBI
-Krishnadas Rajagopal
The last rites of Twisha Sharma were performed in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Sunday (May 24, 2026), hours after a second autopsy was conducted on the body by an expert panel of AIIMS New Delhi, 12 days after she was found dead at her marital home here.
Dozens of ex-servicemen, family and relatives and locals turned up to pay tributes at Bhopal’s Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat with her brother Major Harshit Sharma performing the rituals on Sunday evening even as her mother appeared inconsolable.
Twisha Sharma cremated in Bhopal amid dowry harassment allegations against her husband and mother-in-law following her tragic death.
The Supreme Court on Saturday (May 23, 2026) registered a suo motu case concerning the alleged dowry death of Noida resident Twisha Sharma amid allegations by her family that her in-laws tampered with evidence and that the investigation suffered from procedural irregularities.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi is scheduled to hear the matter on May 25.
Published - May 25, 2026 11:04 am IST
Live news / court / judiciary (system of justice) / Dowry / social issue
Source: The Hindu - India News
