The Supreme Court’s transfer of the Twisha Sharma death case to the CBI has intensified scrutiny, with fresh hearings and bail challenges now shaping the investigation.
Samarth Singh, husband of actor-model Twisha Sharma and an accused in her death case,(photo: IANS)
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Tuesday visited the residence of Samarth Singh, the main accused in the death of his wife Twisha Sharma, as the agency formally began its investigation into the high-profile case in Bhopal.
The move comes a day after the Supreme Court handed over the probe to the CBI, directing the agency to conduct an expeditious investigation. The central agency has since re-registered the FIR that was originally filed at Katara Hills Police Station and taken charge of the case from the Bhopal Police.
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Twisha Sharma, a resident of Noida, died on May 12. Her family has alleged that she was subjected to mental harassment and dowry-related torture by her husband and his family. The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly because one of the accused belongs to the legal fraternity and the mother-in-law is a former judicial officer.
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The Supreme Court, while ordering the transfer of the investigation, observed that a perception was emerging that a fair probe or trial may not take place because of the background of the accused family. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi noted that such concerns had contributed to the court initiating suo motu proceedings in the matter.
The apex court passed the order after hearing multiple connected legal proceedings pending before different courts, including the trial court, the High Court and the Supreme Court itself. Following detailed submissions from lawyers representing the victim’s family, the accused and the state government, the court ordered a centralised investigation by the CBI.
As part of its directions, the Supreme Court also asked both the victim’s family and the accused family to avoid speaking to the media so that the investigation is not influenced.
Meanwhile, the legal battle over anticipatory bail granted to Twisha Sharma’s mother-in-law Giribala Singh is also intensifying.
Speaking to ANI, advocate Ankur Pandey, counsel for the Sharma family, said the Madhya Pradesh government has challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh. He added that Twisha’s father has separately moved court against the same bail order on additional legal grounds.
According to Pandey, notices in connection with the challenge petitions have already been served to Giribala Singh.
The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on May 27 at 2:30 PM, with legal teams from both sides preparing for the next round of arguments.
The CBI’s visit to Samarth Singh’s residence is being seen as the first major on-ground step in the agency’s investigation following the Supreme Court’s intervention.
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