Twisha Sharma's ashes immersed in Ganga at Rishikesh, CBI probe underway
Synopsis
Twisha Sharma's family immersed her ashes in the Ganga at Rishikesh — her favourite city — as the CBI formally takes over her alleged dowry death case. Her brother, an Army officer, has rejected the suicide theory outright, pointing to evidence tampering, while the family pushes for the case to be moved to Delhi and for real punishment for the accused.
Key Takeaways
Ashes of alleged dowry death victim Twisha Sharma were immersed in the Ganga river at Rishikesh on 29 May .
Twisha allegedly died by suicide on 12 May , months after her marriage to Samarth Singh .
A second post-mortem was conducted by AIIMS Delhi on court orders from the Madhya Pradesh High Court ; last rites were held on 24 May .
The CBI has taken over the investigation; the family says hopes for justice have 'increased a lot.' Brother Major Harshit Sharma rejected the suicide theory, citing evidence and alleged attempts to tamper with it.
Cousin Naina Sharma is pushing for the case to be transferred to Delhi and for real punishment for accused Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh .
The ashes of alleged dowry death victim Twisha Sharma were immersed in the Ganga river at Rishikesh on Friday, 29 May, by her family, who described the Uttarakhand city as her favourite place and now her 'resting place'. The immersion followed Twisha's last rites on 24 May, conducted after a second post-mortem carried out by a team from AIIMS Delhi on the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
A Final Farewell in Her Favourite City
Twisha's father, Navnidhi Sharma, said his daughter had a 'very deep connection' with Rishikesh, having attended yoga classes there and completed 300 hours of professional yoga training. 'She loved sitting beside the Ganga river,' he recalled. Cousins, friends, and family members gathered for the immersion ritual, honouring what Navnidhi described as his daughter's own desire.
Family Rejects Suicide Theory, Demands Justice
Twisha allegedly died by suicide on 12 May, barely months after her marriage to Samarth Singh. Her brother, Major Harshit Sharma, flatly rejected the suicide narrative. 'As far as I know my sister, she would never take a step like this. Secondly, looking at the evidence and the way efforts were made to tamper with those, it is very much evident,' he said. Navnidhi Sharma accused Twisha's in-laws — specifically her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Giribala Singh — of 'destroying his life's purest form of love.'
CBI Takes Over Investigation
'There have been quite major developments in the case. As per the latest update, the CBI has taken over, and finally, things are in motion,' Major Harshit Sharma said, expressing hope that the probe would deliver 'righteous justice.' Navnidhi Sharma also said the family's struggle was far from over: 'This struggle is not over yet; it will continue till she gets justice. Now that the CBI is conducting the investigation, our hopes have increased a lot.' Describing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a 'prime institute for investigation,' Major Sharma said the family hoped investigators would 'get the correct arguments.'
Cousin Calls for Real Punishment, Case Transfer to Delhi
Twisha's cousin Naina Sharma said the family would make every effort to ensure the case is transferred to Delhi. 'The case against Twisha's mother-in-law Giribala Singh and husband Samarth Singh should not remain confined only to paperwork — they should receive real punishment,' she said. She added: 'No other daughter should face anything of this sort.' The second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi, ordered by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, signals the judicial scrutiny the case has already attracted. With the CBI now at the helm, the family is watching closely for what comes next.
Point of View
But the family's demand for a venue transfer to Delhi signals their distrust of the local investigative machinery — a concern that is not uncommon in high-profile dowry death cases in India. The court-ordered second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi already suggests the initial findings were contested enough to warrant independent scrutiny. What remains to be seen is whether the CBI probe translates into a charge sheet that addresses the family's core allegation: that this was not suicide, but a death enabled by a pattern of abuse and cover-up. India's dowry death conviction rates remain dismally low, and without robust forensic conclusions from the AIIMS report being made public, the justice the family seeks could remain elusive.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Twisha Sharma and how did she die?
Twisha Sharma was a young woman who allegedly died by suicide on 12 May, just months after her marriage to Samarth Singh. Her family has rejected the suicide theory and alleges she was a victim of dowry-related abuse, with evidence reportedly tampered with after her death.
Why was a second post-mortem conducted in the Twisha Sharma case?
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second post-mortem, which was carried out by a team from AIIMS Delhi. The order came amid the family's contestation of the initial findings and their allegations of foul play.
Has the CBI taken over the Twisha Sharma investigation?
Yes, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into Twisha Sharma's death. Her family has welcomed this development, with her father saying their 'hopes have increased a lot' and her brother calling the CBI a 'prime institute for investigation.'
Who are the accused in the Twisha Sharma case?
The family has accused Twisha's husband Samarth Singh and her mother-in-law Giribala Singh of being responsible for her death. Cousin Naina Sharma has demanded that the accused 'receive real punishment' and not just face paperwork.
Why were Twisha Sharma's ashes immersed in Rishikesh?
Rishikesh held deep personal significance for Twisha — she had attended yoga classes there and completed 300 hours of professional yoga training. Her father said the immersion in the Ganga was done to honour her own connection with the city.
