The Supreme Court ordered the family and in-laws of Twisha Sharma to stop giving media statements while the investigation into her death continues [1].
The ruling aims to protect the integrity of the legal process in a high-profile case involving allegations of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. By restricting public commentary, the court seeks to prevent media interference from influencing the probe or potential witnesses.
Sharma, a former actor-model, was found dead on May 12, 2026 [2]. Reports on her age vary, with some sources stating she was 31 [1] and others reporting she was 33 [2]. The case centers on her matrimonial home in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh [1].
During the May 25, 2026, hearing, a bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi issued the directive [3]. The court said that the public nature of the accusations had created a volatile environment.
"We are slightly in pain because of some of the actions," Chief Justice Surya Kant said. "We will request our media friends not to go for the statements of the victim’s family or the other family. Let the things move as per law" [4].
The bench further directed that potential witnesses and the accused should not provide statements to the press [3]. This follows a period of public tension and conflicting narratives regarding the cause of death. To date, two autopsies have been performed, with a second conducted after the first [5].
The legal battle involves Sharma's husband, Samarth Singh, a lawyer, and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, a former district judge [1]. In a statement to NDTV on May 25, Giribala Singh said, "Twisha Sharma is a product of her own troubled personality" [6].
“"Let the things move as per law."”
This judicial intervention highlights the tension between the right to a fair trial and the influence of media trials in India. By imposing a gag order on the immediate family and accused, the Supreme Court is attempting to decouple the legal investigation from the public narrative to ensure that evidence and witness testimony are not contaminated by external pressure.
