Key Takeaways
- Twisha Sharma, a former Miss Pune, model, actor and MBA graduate, was found dead at her Bhopal residence on May 12, with police treating the case as a suspected dowry‑related murder.
- Her mother‑in‑law, retired judge Giribala Singh, alleges that Twisha used marijuana during pregnancy, underwent psychiatric treatment for schizophrenia‑like symptoms, expressed regret after initiating a medical termination of pregnancy, and that Twisha’s parents had been absent for five months and allegedly profited from her career.
- Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, claims the marriage was arranged after meeting on a dating app, says dowry demands were made indirectly (e.g., taunts about feeding her after she lost her job), and describes her husband as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” with a family history of marital harassment.
- Both sides accuse each other of harassment and neglect; the police investigation is ongoing, and the matter remains sub judice.
Twisha Sharma, a 33‑year‑old former beauty queen who had worked as a model, actor, digital creator and held an MBA, was discovered hanging at her husband’s home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills neighbourhood on 12 May. Police have opened a dowry‑harassment and murder probe, treating her death as suspicious. The case has drawn public attention because of the competing narratives put forward by Twisha’s mother‑in‑law, Giribala Singh, a retired judge, and her father, Navnidhi Sharma.
Giribala Singh has made a series of allegations aimed at discrediting Twisha’s family and portraying her daughter‑in‑law as troubled. She claimed that Twisha confessed to consuming large quantities of marijuana while pregnant, a statement she said was made during a conversation. Singh also asserted that Twisha was undergoing psychiatric care, describing her condition as schizophrenic‑like: she would be stable for a day, then exhibit symptoms such as hand tremors that Singh interpreted as withdrawal signs. The mother‑in‑law further said that Twisha had begun a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) process, expressed regret after taking the first pill, and wished to reverse the decision—a possibility Singh said was medically impossible. Singh added that Twisha had destroyed household items during episodes of instability.
Singh also directed criticism toward Twisha’s parents, alleging they had not visited her for the five months preceding her death. She claimed the parents had pushed Twisha into the glamour industry at a young age, later disowned her, and were now allegedly profiting from her fame while refusing to allow her cremation. Singh questioned the father’s professional background, noting his two‑decade stint in the pharmaceutical industry in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and speculated that he might be the source of unspecified “things.” She emphasized that she had faith in the investigating agencies and the truth emerging from the probe.
In contrast, Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, told NDTV that the relationship began on a dating app and that both families had approved it after about a year of acquaintance. He described dowry demands as indirect, saying that modern dowry practices rarely involve explicit requests for money; instead, families create situations where money is siphoned off through expectations and taunts. According to Navnidhi, after Twisha lost her job, the husband’s family began remarks such as “How will we feed you?” which he viewed as harassment. He characterized Twisha’s husband, Samarth, as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and pointed to a pattern within the husband’s family: their first daughter‑in‑law had also divorced due to alleged harassment, and many assurances given at the time of marriage had not been fulfilled.
Twisha’s professional background adds context to the family tensions. Originally from Noida, she entered modelling between 2009 and 2012, persisted through grooming and hard work, and won the Miss Pune title. That victory opened doors to advertising, modelling and acting, including appearances in Telugu cinema (notably the film Mugguru Monagallu) and a short film titled Zara Sambhal Ke. Friends and acquaintances described her as creative, expressive and driven, eager to build a life beyond the labels of beauty queen or model.
The investigation remains ongoing, with both sides presenting contradictory claims about substance use, mental health, familial support and dowry‑related pressure. Police are examining evidence, including statements from witnesses, medical records and digital communications, to determine whether Twisha’s death resulted from suicide, dowry‑related harassment or another cause. Until the probe concludes, the case continues to fuel debate about how dowry practices manifest in contemporary urban marriages and the vulnerabilities faced by women navigating career ambitions, familial expectations and marital relationships.