Twisha Sharma Death Case: SC Adjourns Hearing on Plea to Move Trial to Delhi
The Supreme Court has adjourned the plea to transfer the Twisha Sharma death case to Delhi, amid allegations of influence by a former judge.
The Supreme Court has pushed back the hearing by one week regarding a plea to transfer the Twisha Sharma death case to Delhi. The request, filed by the victim's father, Navnidhi Sharma, seeks to move the trial out of Madhya Pradesh to ensure that the proceedings remain free and fair.
A Brief Delay in the Apex Court
On Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana adjourned the matter. The delay came after the counsel for the respondent requested additional time. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing the respondent, informed the court that accommodation was needed as his instructing counsel is getting married.
This development follows a previous order by the apex court, which stayed all further trial proceedings currently pending before the Bhopal Sessions Court. The Supreme Court has already issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as well as the accused, Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh.
Allegations of Influence and Power
The core of the plea for transfer lies in the concerns raised by Navnidhi Sharma. The victim's father has alleged that a fair trial in the current jurisdiction is unlikely due to the perceived influence of Giribala Singh, Twisha’s mother-in-law. Giribala Singh is a former district judge and previously served as the president of the Madhya Pradesh District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
The Tragic Timeline of Twisha Sharma
The case traces back to a relationship that began on a dating app. Twisha Sharma, a resident of Noida, married Samarth Singh, a lawyer based in Bhopal. However, the marriage took a dark turn shortly after.
Just five months into the marriage, Twisha was found hanging at her matrimonial home on May 12. Following her death, her family came forward with harrowing allegations, claiming that she had been subjected to continuous domestic abuse and harassment driven by demands for dowry.
The Legal Battle Over Bail
The legal proceedings have been fraught with tension, particularly regarding the role of the mother-in-law. Giribala Singh had initially managed to secure anticipatory bail from a sessions court. However, this relief was short-lived; the Madhya Pradesh High Court later set aside the bail order after it was challenged by both the State government and Twisha’s grieving family.