Indian actress Twisha Sharma’s husband and retired judge mother-in-law charged over her death five months after wedding

Mumbai, August 19 — Indian investigators have charged Twisha Sharma's husband and her mother-in-law with abetting Sharma's suicide, five months after her death sparked widespread speculation over the circumstances surrounding her passing. The 33-year-old model and actress was found dead in her Bhopal home on May 12, 2025, just five months after her wedding to lawyer Samarth Singh, according to the BBC.

Twisha's family claims she endured severe mental cruelty due to dowry-related harassment and was murdered. However, both Singh and his mother, retired judge Giribala Singh, have denied any wrongdoing. In a 600-page chargesheet, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that Sharma suffered continuous mental cruelty from her husband and mother-in-law, ultimately leading her to take her own life.

The chargesheet alleges that Singh used derogatory language towards Sharma, while Giribala Singh would occasionally incite her son to mistreat her. Sharma's family lawyer, Ankur Pandey, informed the BBC that the allegations classified the death as an alleged suicide, indicating the ongoing nature of the investigation. The CBI has also sought permission to continue probing the case, potentially leading to the filing of a supplementary chargesheet if new evidence surfaces.

Giribala Singh's legal team contends that investigators have found no evidence supporting claims of dowry harassment or murder. They assert that the investigation has uncovered no evidence to substantiate earlier allegations of abuse or foul play. Singh himself surrendered to police after initially evading capture, while his mother was arrested several days later and remains in custody.

Tensions reportedly escalated following Twisha's pregnancy in April, with allegations that her husband and mother-in-law questioned the paternity of their unborn child and coerced her into an abortion in early May. Giribala Singh denies this claim, stating that Twisha herself desired the abortion.