As the Supreme Court prepares to hear Twisha Sharma’s death case on Monday, a series of unanswered questions — from disputed forensic evidence to missing timelines and allegations of institutional influence — continue to deepen the mystery surrounding the death of the 32-year-old actor and model in Bhopal.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday after taking suo motu cognizance of what it described as alleged “institutional bias and procedural inconsistencies” in the investigation. Even as the Madhya Pradesh government seeks a CBI probe and the Supreme Court orders a second autopsy, many crucial questions remain unanswered.
Why was there controversy over the so-called lace material?
One of the first questions raised by Twisha’s family concerned the nylon exercise belt that was allegedly used in the hanging. According to court filings cited by multiple media reports, the material was not presented during the first post-mortem examination and appeared only a day later, sparking allegations that the evidence may have been mishandled.
The controversy intensified after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second autopsy to be conducted by the AIIMS Delhi team, noting the need to maintain public confidence in the investigation.
Is the CCTV footage properly secured?
The digital evidence has emerged as one of the most controversial aspects of the case. Twisha’s family claimed that the crime scene remained under the control of the accused’s family for about two days before investigators obtained crucial evidence. They also questioned how the alleged CCTV footage from the house could appear publicly if the police had already seized the DVR system.
Adding another layer to the dispute, Giribala Singh claimed before the court that the CCTV system had a technical defect and displayed incorrect timestamps. She also alleged that mandatory booking procedures were not followed while police accessed and copied the recordings.
Reports indicate that eight CCTV cameras have been installed at the house where Twisha was found dead. The final minutes before her death was declared became pivotal to the investigation.
Why did the FIR come days later?
Questions were also raised about the timing of the FIR. Twisha died on May 12, but an FIR was registered against her husband Samarth Singh and mother-in-law Gribala Singh later after sustained allegations from her family.
Her family claimed that delays in the proceedings allowed evidence to be compromised and powerful individuals to interfere in the investigation. However, police maintained that procedures were followed as per protocol.
What role did WhatsApp chats and audio clips play?
WhatsApp chats, leaked audio recordings and call detail logs became the main tension points in the case. Twisha’s family pointed to chats in which she allegedly expressed sadness about her married life, while an audio chat purportedly showing Giripala questioning Twisha’s character sparked outrage online.
Meanwhile, Samarth claimed in court that the chats being circulated are “edited and incomplete”.
The family has also sought to preserve records of call details, alleging that calls were made to influential people after Twisha’s death which may have influenced the investigation and post-mortem process.
If Twisha had future plans, what would change?
Investigators are also examining whether Twisha’s actions before her death are consistent with the suicide theory. Officials told HT that she had planned to travel to Ajmer on May 15 to meet her brother Major Harshit Sharma, a few days after her death.
Her family has repeatedly argued that the existence of travel plans, combined with signs of the alleged infection and her recent conversations, raise doubts about the circumstances that led to her death.
Why did Samarth disappear after the incident?
Another unsolved issue is Samarth’s disappearance in the days following Twisha’s death. Police issued a probation notice and announced a cash reward before he eventually surrendered.
Investigators are now questioning him about the sequence of events on the night of May 12, his communication records and the discrepancies reported by Twisha’s family. He remains in police custody.
Did the impact impact the investigation?
Perhaps the biggest question looming over the case is whether the investigation was influenced by Giripala’s background as a retired district judge and current Consumer Commission chairman.
The Supreme Court’s decision to intervene suo motu, references to “institutional bias”, allegations of calls to powerful individuals, and the state government’s push for a probe into the CBI have all amplified concerns about whether the original investigation was compromised at any stage.
For now, the answers to many of these questions remain unclear – but Monday’s Supreme Court hearing is expected to shed powerful light on the conduct of the investigation and the events leading up to Twisha Sharma’s death.
