An Indian bride dies. Rival claims of murder and suicide set off media frenzy

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. An Indian bride dies. Rival claims of murder and suicide set off media frenzy4 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleGeeta Pandey and Vishnukant TiwariDelhi and BhopalCourtesy Twisha's familyTwisha Sharma was a model and actor and a beauty pageant winnerIn India, where thousands of young women are murdered every year for bringing in insufficient dowries, a dowry death rarely makes news. But the death of Twisha Sharma in the central city of Bhopal on 12 May has sparked a huge media frenzy, with the case making headlines every day.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing. The 33-year-old model and actor had been married for just five months to lawyer Samarth Singh when she was found dead in her matrimonial home. Twisha's parents and siblings have alleged that she was tortured by Singh and his mother - retired judge Giribala Singh - over dowry demands and that she was murdered.

The Details

Giribala Singh has called the accusations "baseless" and alleged that Twisha had mental health issues and that she killed herself. Police official Rajnish Kashyap Kaul told Hindi that they have lodged a case of dowry death against the Singhs and are investigating whether Twisha's death was murder or suicide. Police say they are also trying to find Samarth who is absconding - a cash reward has been announced for any information on him and a lookout notice has been issued to ensure he does not leave the country.

A court in Bhopal has given anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh but rejected Samarth's bail application. He's been asked to surrender by 23 May. Giribala Singh has said she doesn't know where her son is, but added that he will seek bail in the high court and will surrender if it's rejected.

"Our lawyer advised him to stay away. He told him you'll be lynched if you came out. There's a tirade against him, people are calling for his hanging," she told video platform Mojo Story.

What Experts Say

"You must remember that my son has lost a deeply loved one, he's lost his companion in life. And we can't even grieve… Everyone is against us," she said. Twisha's family, meanwhile, have refused to cremate her body and sought a second post-mortem - the first autopsy report, which the has seen, said she died by hanging, but it also spoke of injuries sustained before her death.

A court has turned down their request but ordered the authorities to protect the body from decomposing. With Samarth still absconding, Twisha's family making grave allegations against the Singhs and the former judge giving interviews about the deceased's alleged mental health issues, there has been relentless media coverage of the case. A "justice for Twisha Sharma" page has come up on Instagram and has found its way into the media coverage.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.