Mystery over Twisha Sharma’s Bhopal death deepens

I'm trapped, can't talk: Noida woman, found dead in Bhopal, sent this last text

Twisha Sharma's family has intensified its protest over her mysterious death in Bhopal, demanding a fresh AIIMS Delhi post-mortem and refusing last rites, while her final "I am trapped" message to a friend has added a new layer of intrigue to the case.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Family alleged prolonged mental and physical abuse by husband and in-laws
  • Navnidhi Sharma said the probe showed deficiencies and inspired little confidence
  • The family sought colder storage, saying current conditions could decompose evidence

“I am trapped, bro. Bas tu mat phasna (Just, don't get trapped yourself). Can’t talk much. I’ll call when the time is right,” Twisha wrote to Minakshi on Instagram.

Her friend Minakshi replied: “I am worried about you, Tuktuk. I love you. I love you so much. I am with you.”

However, Twisha Sharma’s call to her friend never came. The next day, the 31-year-old, who was two months pregnant, was found hanging at her home in Bhopal. That was the last message she sent her friend, urging her not to get married.

Twisha, who was from Noida and married into a Bhopal family of lawyers and a retired judge, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on May 12.

On Sunday, Twisha’s family protested outside the residence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, demanding a fresh post-mortem examination at AIIMS Delhi. They also refused to perform her last rites, saying they would do so only after learning the truth behind her death.

The family has accused Twisha's husband and in-laws of prolonged mental and physical abuse, and alleged that they were trying to influence the investigation. It also demanded that Twisha's body be preserved properly for post-mortem purposes and said the ongoing probe had not inspired confidence.

Speaking to India Today TV, Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, said the family could not meet the chief minister as he was occupied with a visiting delegation, but they did speak to his OSD instead. He claimed the OSD acknowledged deficiencies in the police investigation.

Navnidhi Sharma also said the family had requested that Twisha’s body be preserved at minus 4 degrees Celsius, arguing that storage at 4-5 degrees Celsius could lead to decomposition. He alleged that this was being done at the behest of the accused and said the family would again approach the court seeking directions to lower the temperature.

On Sunday, the family remained outside the CM House for several hours, insisting on a direct meeting with the chief minister. Police personnel and senior officers tried to persuade them to hold talks with administrative officials, but the family refused to leave without an assurance from the chief minister. Navnidhi Sharma also threatened self-immolation if justice was not delivered.

Ever since the incident, the family alleged foul play in Twisha's death and questioned the credibility of the investigation. It demanded a second post-mortem examination and said the initial report from AIIMS Bhopal was unsatisfactory.

Navnidhi Sharma alleged serious lapses in the inquiry, claiming that the FIR was registered two days after his daughter's death and that no arrests had been made so far. He said the family had lost faith in the Special Investigation Team formed by the police and wanted the matter to be investigated under the Supreme Court's supervision.

According to the family, Twisha's body had injury marks on her hands and ears, raising suspicion of murder and destruction of evidence. The family also alleged that the case was being presented as a suicide despite several unanswered questions. Twisha, who was from Noida, was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on the night of May 12.

A former Miss Pune, Twisha had married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh in December 2025 after meeting him through a dating app in 2024. Her relatives said she wanted to leave Bhopal and return to Noida, and remained in touch with the family until shortly before her death. Her brother, Harshit Sharma, serves as a Major in the Indian Army.

Police said an SIT had been formed to investigate allegations of dowry harassment, assault and destruction of evidence against Twisha's husband Samarth Singh and his mother, retired judge Giribala Singh.

A local court has granted anticipatory bail to retired judge Giribala Singh, while the hearing on Samarth Singh's anticipatory bail plea is scheduled for May 18.

Katara Hills police station in-charge Sunil Dubey has said that efforts are underway to arrest Samarth Singh and that the police would challenge the bail granted to Giribala Singh and continue legal proceedings. Dubey also said that if the family continued to refuse to accept the body despite court procedures, the authorities would carry out the cremation in accordance with legal provisions.

The family’s protest outside the chief minister’s residence, its demand for a fresh post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi, and its refusal to perform the last rites have once again brought the focus back on the allegations, the investigation, and the pending legal process in the case. Now, the “I am trapped” message Twisha sent to her friend before her death has added another layer of mystery.

- Ends