CBI files 636-page chargesheet against ex-judge Giribala Singh and son in Twisha Sharma death case

On Monday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a 636-page chargesheet against former district judge Giribala Singh and her son, advocate Samarth Singh, in connection with the suspicious death of model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma. The CBI has accused them of dowry death, cruelty in marriage, abetment to suicide, and acting together with criminal intent.

The chargesheet was filed before a special CBI court in Bhopal and lists Sections 80(2), 85, 108, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Section 80(2) is about dowry death, with a minimum sentence of seven years and up to life in prison. Section 85 covers cruelty by a husband or his relatives, and Section 108 is about abetment of suicide.

Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills on May 12, 2026, just five months after marrying Samarth Singh on December 9, 2025. According to the FIR, Samarth took her to AIIMS Bhopal and said she had hanged herself at home around 10:20 pm. Doctors declared her dead on arrival, which started a medico-legal case. The post-mortem found she died from hanging with a ligature, like a gymnastics belt or ring rope, and also had several blunt-force injuries.

Twisha’s family in Noida said she faced ongoing mental and physical abuse, dowry harassment, and pressure after her marriage. They said her in-laws were unhappy with the dowry and mistreated her, including arguments about her pregnancy. The family also accused the accused of trying to destroy or hide evidence by using their influence and legal knowledge. They refused to cremate Twisha for almost 12 days, asking for a second independent autopsy.

The Madhya Pradesh Police started investigating and filed an FIR on May 15 against Samarth and Giribala under the BNS and Dowry Prohibition Act. A Bhopal sessions court granted Giribala anticipatory bail, but Samarth went missing for several days before surrendering. The Madhya Pradesh High Court later ordered a second autopsy, which a four-member team from AIIMS Delhi did on May 24, to address the family's concerns about the first examination at AIIMS Bhopal and questions about the ligature and injuries.

After the second autopsy and rising concerns, the CBI took over the investigation and re-registered the case. Samarth was arrested in late May, and Giribala was taken into custody on May 28 after the High Court cancelled her anticipatory bail. The CBI reconstructed the crime scene and reviewed WhatsApp chats, phone records, voice samples, and forensic evidence. Investigators also looked into claims that the accused questioned Twisha’s character about her pregnancy and pressured her to end it. Both are still in judicial custody.

The chargesheet is an important step in this high-profile case, which has drawn national attention due to the involvement of a former judge. According to CBI sources, the investigation found evidence of harassment related to dowry and other personal issues that contributed to Twisha’s death, but did not prove murder. The accused say the death was a suicide and deny any dowry demands or cruelty.

The special court will now review the chargesheet and decide the next steps. This case highlights the ongoing problem of dowry-related violence and the challenges of investigating deaths in powerful families. Twisha’s family welcomed the chargesheet and said they hope for justice.