Supreme Court issues notice on plea to transfer Twisha Sharma death case to Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 16, 2026) issued notice on a petition seeking to transfer the proceedings of the unnatural death case of model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to a court in New Delhi.

Navnidhi Sharma, Ms. Sharma’s father, filed the petition. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the two accused: her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh.

Mr. Sharma said the accused husband and mother-in-law — a lawyer and former district judge — were influential in Bhopal. He added that three different judges had recused themselves from the trial proceedings there, citing familiarity with Ms. Giribala Singh.

The apex court stayed the trial proceedings while noting that the bail applications filed by the husband and the mother-in-law would be decided within two weeks.

In May 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to the Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to shift the case to the CBI to address Ms. Sharma’s family’s concerns about receiving a fair probe, as one of the accused was a former district judge . The court also registered a suo motu case.

The 33-year-old woman was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her family has accused her husband and mother-in-law of mental harassment and making financial demands.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi, on the Bench, said a young woman had died an unnatural death within six months of marriage and the seriousness of the case should not be undermined.