Bhopal court rejects Samarth Singh's default bail in Twisha Sharma death case
Synopsis
A Bhopal court has shut down Samarth Singh's bid for default bail in the death of his wife Twisha Sharma, ruling the CBI's charge sheet was filed on time. The court also held that ongoing forensic and digital evidence work — iPhone data, DVR footage, voice samples — does not make the charge sheet incomplete, clearing the path for trial.
Key Takeaways
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shobhna Malave on 5 October 2025 dismissed Samarth Singh's default bail plea in the Twisha Sharma death case.
The court held the CBI filed its charge sheet within the statutory period, negating Singh's right to default bail.
Pending forensic work — including iPhone data extraction , DVR footage review, and voice comparison — was ruled insufficient to invalidate the charge sheet.
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2025 ; Singh was arrested on 23 May 2025 .
The Supreme Court had ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI; the final report was filed on 17 August 2025 .
The case now proceeds to trial before the Sessions Court .
A Bhopal court on Monday, 5 October 2025, rejected the default bail application of Samarth Singh, the prime accused in the death of his wife Twisha Sharma, ruling that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed its charge sheet within the legally prescribed period. The decision closes, at least temporarily, a key legal escape route for Singh as the case heads toward trial.
What the Court Ruled
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shobhna Malave dismissed Singh's plea filed under Section 187(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The court rejected his central contention that the CBI had deliberately filed an incomplete charge sheet to defeat his statutory right to default bail.
Crucially, the court accepted the CBI's submission that further investigation into specific technical aspects — including extraction of data from an iPhone, DVR footage, and voice comparison — could lawfully continue even after the charge sheet was filed, and that such pending work would not render the charge sheet incomplete.
What the Defence Argued
Singh's counsel contended that the investigation was still pending on several significant fronts, particularly the examination of electronic evidence and forensic reports. The defence argued that filing without completing these aspects amounted to an incomplete charge sheet, entitling Singh to default bail as a matter of right.
The court did not accept this reasoning, holding that the CBI had taken cognisance of offences and committed the case to the Sessions Court within the statutory window.
Victim's Family Opposes Bail
Counsel for the Sharma family, Advocate Ankur Pandey, opposed the default bail plea, arguing that the victim's family had a right to be heard in bail proceedings. He also pointed out that Singh had not sought default bail before the charge sheet was filed — a procedural lapse that further weakened his application.
Background of the Case
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2025. A case was registered at Katara Hills Police Station, following which Samarth Singh was arrested on 23 May 2025. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the CBI pursuant to an order of the Supreme Court, reflecting the gravity with which the judiciary viewed the circumstances of her death.
The CBI filed its final report on 17 August 2025, well within the statutory period — a timeline the court found to be compliant with the law.
With the default bail plea now dismissed, the case is set to proceed before the Sessions Court, where Singh will face trial on the charges framed by the CBI.
Point of View
If upheld by higher courts, could narrow that window. The bigger question is why Supreme Court intervention was needed to transfer investigation in what appears to be a marital death case — a pattern that raises questions about the readiness of local police machinery to handle such investigations without pressure from above.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Samarth Singh's default bail plea rejected?
The Bhopal court rejected Singh's default bail plea because the CBI had filed its charge sheet within the legally prescribed period under Section 187(3) of the BNSS. The court also ruled that pending forensic and digital investigations do not make a charge sheet incomplete.
Who is Twisha Sharma and what happened to her?
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2025. Her husband, Samarth Singh, was arrested on 23 May 2025 after a case was registered at Katara Hills Police Station; the Supreme Court subsequently ordered the investigation to be transferred to the CBI.
What is default bail and how did Singh's lawyers argue for it?
Default bail — also called statutory bail — is the right of an accused to be released if the police or investigating agency fails to file a charge sheet within the prescribed time limit. Singh's defence argued the CBI's charge sheet was incomplete because electronic evidence and forensic reports were still pending, which the court rejected.
What role did the Supreme Court play in this case?
The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the investigation from local Bhopal police to the CBI, reflecting judicial concern about the conduct of the probe. The CBI subsequently filed its final report on 17 August 2025.
What happens next in the Twisha Sharma case?
With the default bail plea dismissed, the case will now proceed to trial before the Sessions Court in Bhopal. Samarth Singh will remain in custody and face charges as framed in the CBI's charge sheet.
