A court ordered seven days of police custody [2] for Samarth Singh after his wife, model and actor Twisha Sharma, was found dead.
The case has drawn national attention due to the high profile of the victim and the conflicting accounts of the death, which have triggered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
Sharma was found dead on May 12, 2024 [1], at her in-laws' home in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Her family alleges she was murdered following dowry-related harassment. Conversely, the in-laws maintain that her death was a suicide [3].
To resolve the conflicting reports on the cause of death, AIIMS Delhi has formed a medical board to conduct a second autopsy [2]. The investigation is intensifying as police examine the actions of the family. Reports indicate that Giribala Singh, the mother-in-law, made 45 calls [5] after Sharma died.
Samarth Singh, a lawyer and son of a retired judge, is the prime accused in the investigation. While some reports suggest he was missing, a court recently ordered his seven-day police custody [2].
Controversy has also surrounded a viral audio recording. Giribala Singh said the recordings were "doctored" [3]. However, Meenakshi Sharma, a cousin of the deceased, said "the remarks in the audio clip reflected the family's mindset towards the deceased" [2].
Another unidentified pregnant woman reportedly sent a final message before her own death stating, "I'm trapped, tu mat phasna" [4], though the specific connection to this case remains under investigation.
“"The recordings were 'doctored'."”
The involvement of the CBI and the order for a second autopsy at AIIMS Delhi indicate that local police findings were either inconclusive or contested. The tension between the allegations of dowry harassment and claims of suicide reflects a broader systemic issue regarding gender-based violence and the legal complexities of proving dowry deaths in India.
