Twisha Sharma Death Case: SC Stays Bhopal Trial, Issues Notice on Delhi Transfer Plea
Supreme Court stays the Twisha Sharma death case trial in Bhopal as her father seeks transfer to Delhi, citing influence of former judge mother-in-law.
The Supreme Court has stepped in to halt the ongoing trial proceedings in the Twisha Sharma death case currently being heard at the Bhopal Sessions Court. On Friday, the apex court stayed the trial until further orders and issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the accused, Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh, following a petition to move the case to Delhi.
Battle for a Fair Trial
The plea for the transfer of the case was moved by Navnidhi Sharma, the father of the deceased. He has approached the highest court expressing grave concerns that a free and fair trial may not be possible in Bhopal. The core of his apprehension lies in the alleged influence wielded by Giribala Singh, Twisha’s mother-in-law, who is a former district judge.
A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi presided over the matter and subsequently issued the notices to the relevant parties to respond to the transfer request.
The Tragic Sequence of Events
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.
Approximately five months into the marriage, Twisha was found hanging at her matrimonial home on May 12. Following her death, her family raised serious allegations, claiming that she had been subjected to continuous domestic abuse and harassment driven by demands for dowry.
Legal Tussle Over Bail
The legal battle intensified over the role of the mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, who previously served as the president of the Madhya Pradesh District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. Initially, Giribala Singh managed to secure anticipatory bail from a sessions court.
This relief, however, was short-lived. Both the State government and Twisha’s family challenged the bail order in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. After reviewing the matter, the High Court set aside the anticipatory bail order, paving the way for further investigation and trial.