Twisha Sharma death case: Father moves SC to shift trial from Bhopal to Delhi
Synopsis
The father of former actress Twisha Sharma — who died at her matrimonial home in Bhopal in May 2026 — has moved the Supreme Court to shift the CBI trial from Bhopal to Delhi, arguing that the accused's deep judicial connections in the city make a fair trial impossible. The hearing on 16 October could be a turning point in one of the year's most closely watched cases.
Key Takeaways
Navnidhi Sharma (61) , father of former actress Twisha Sharma , has petitioned the Supreme Court to transfer Sessions Trial No.
584 of 2026 from Bhopal to Delhi .
Twisha Sharma died at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2026 , around five months after her marriage.
Her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh , face charges of cruelty, abetment of suicide, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .
The CBI filed a chargesheet on 14 August 2026 ; the dowry-related aspect remains under further investigation.
The petition cites Giribala Singh's former judicial position in Bhopal and the handling of her bail by five courts over five days as evidence of fair trial concerns.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the transfer petition on 16 October 2026 .
The father of former actress Twisha Sharma has approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the trial against her husband and mother-in-law from Bhopal to Delhi, citing concerns over the initial investigation, bail proceedings, and the prospect of a fair trial in Madhya Pradesh. The petition is listed for hearing on 16 October 2026.
What the Petition Seeks
Navnidhi Sharma (61), Twisha's father, has filed a plea seeking transfer of Sessions Trial No. 584 of 2026 — titled CBI vs Giribala Singh and Another — from the court of the X District and Additional Sessions Judge in Bhopal to a competent court in Delhi. A separate application has also been filed seeking a stay on trial proceedings in Bhopal until the Supreme Court decides the transfer plea.
Advocate Ankur Pandey, who represents the Sharma family, confirmed these details, noting that the petition is formally listed before the apex court.
Background: Twisha's Death and the Accused
Twisha Sharma died at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2026, approximately five months after her marriage. Her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired Principal District and Sessions Judge Giribala Singh, are the accused in the case.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter on 25 May 2026, following which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe. On 14 August 2026, the CBI filed a chargesheet against both accused for cruelty, abetment of suicide, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The dowry-related aspect reportedly remains under further investigation.
Why Fair Trial Concerns Were Raised
The petitioner has flagged Giribala Singh's former position as a senior judicial officer in Bhopal as a key reason why an impartial trial in the city may be difficult. She was also reportedly serving as president of the Bhopal District Consumer Commission at the time of Twisha's death.
The plea further questions the handling of Giribala Singh's bail applications, claiming that five courts dealt with the matter over five days and that three judges returned the file or recused themselves. The court now handling the trial had earlier granted her anticipatory bail — an order subsequently set aside by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 27 May 2026.
Investigation Concerns and Incidents Cited
The petition raises concerns about the initial investigation, including the alleged improper sealing of the terrace where Twisha died, the handling of ligature material during the first post-mortem, and the alleged collection of CCTV footage by Giribala Singh herself.
Also referenced are alleged incidents involving Twisha's brother — a serving Army officer — at Bhopal court premises on 15 May 2026, and an incident involving the family's counsel at Jabalpur district court on 22 May 2026.
Why Delhi Is the Preferred Venue
The petitioner has argued that Delhi is the appropriate venue given that the CBI conducted its investigation from the national capital, a second post-mortem was carried out by an AIIMS New Delhi medical board, forensic reports were issued by CFSL Delhi, and the investigating officer along with several witnesses are based in the National Capital Region.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the transfer petition on 16 October 2026, a date that is expected to determine whether the trial shifts or continues in Bhopal.
Point of View
Recusals and procedural complications are almost inevitable — as the five-courts-in-five-days episode over bail starkly illustrated. The Supreme Court's suo motu intervention and the CBI's takeover have already signalled that this case demands scrutiny beyond local institutions. Keeping the trial in Bhopal risks the perception, if not the reality, of compromised impartiality. The deeper question this case raises is whether India needs a clearer statutory mechanism for transferring trials where the accused holds local institutional power.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Twisha Sharma death case?
Twisha Sharma, a former actress, died at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on 12 May 2026, approximately five months after her marriage. Her husband, advocate Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, are accused of cruelty, abetment of suicide, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Why is Twisha Sharma's father seeking a transfer of the trial to Delhi?
Navnidhi Sharma has cited concerns about a fair trial in Bhopal because the accused, Giribala Singh, is a former senior judicial officer with deep connections in the city. He also points to procedural anomalies in the bail proceedings, lapses in the initial investigation, and the fact that the CBI, AIIMS New Delhi, and CFSL Delhi — all based in the capital — are central to the case.
When will the Supreme Court hear the transfer petition?
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the transfer petition on 16 October 2026. A separate application seeking a stay on Bhopal trial proceedings until the transfer plea is decided has also been filed.
What did the CBI chargesheet say?
The CBI filed a chargesheet on 14 August 2026 against both Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh for cruelty, abetment of suicide, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The dowry-related aspect of the case reportedly remains under further investigation.
How did the CBI get involved in the Twisha Sharma case?
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the case on 25 May 2026, following which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe from local police. The apex court's intervention came amid concerns about the integrity of the initial investigation.
