Major Harshit Sharma Conducts Final Rites for Sister Twisha Sharma Amid Ongoing Investigation
Bhopal, May 25, 2026 — In a poignant ceremony filled with sorrow, Major Harshit Sharma, an officer in the Indian Army, carried out the last rites of his sister, Twisha Sharma, at the Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat cremation ground in Bhopal on Sunday evening.
Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old former model and actress originally from Noida, was married to Bhopal lawyer Samarth Singh in December 2025. Her cremation took place nearly two weeks after her death on May 12, 2026. Her remains were handed over to the family following a second post-mortem conducted by a team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
The funeral rituals began after 5 p.m., subsequent to the completion of the second autopsy earlier that day. Family members, including Twisha's grieving parents and other relatives, bid her a tearful goodbye, adhering to traditional Hindu customs. Major Harshit Sharma, in formal attire, lit the funeral pyre as part of his duties as her brother.
The crematorium witnessed emotional scenes as Twisha's family, particularly her mother, were visibly upset during the preparation of the pyre. The delay in performing the last rites, which was due to necessary legal and medical processes, had previously raised concerns among the family about disrupting traditional 13-day mourning practices.
Major Harshit Sharma paid homage to his sister, calling her “a very emotional, caring and loving person” who always kept everyone together.
He expressed hope, stating, “We are all very hopeful and waiting… This is a big step ahead, and we are all happy that the transparency we wanted is coming forth.”
Twisha's father, Navnidhi Sharma, spoke of their loss: “Today, we are going to bid farewell to a daughter, a sister, a friend and an innocent life. The daughter who had begun a new phase of life with dreams has left us all too soon. The vacant eyes of parents, shattered dreams, and every passing moment spent waiting for justice raise a silent question before society.”
He added, “We don’t know how we will live without her… I thank everyone for their support and she will get justice. This case will set an example for everyone and people’s faith in the judicial process will be restored. I thank the Supreme Court for taking suo motu cognisance of the matter.”
Other family members pointed out perceived inadequacies in the initial post-mortem, expressing belief that the second autopsy conducted by AIIMS would yield clearer results. The family had requested this second examination to ensure a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
Twisha Sharma was discovered dead at her matrimonial home in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on May 12, 2026. Her family alleged she had been a victim of dowry harassment and mental torture by her husband and his family, which they claimed led to her suicide. An FIR was filed against Samarth Singh and his mother, Giribala Singh, a former district judge, under applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The husband was in hiding for about 10 days before he surrendered and was arrested in Jabalpur on May 22. On May 23, a Bhopal court ordered him into seven days of police custody for further questioning. The husband's family has maintained that Twisha's death was a suicide, rejecting the dowry allegations and asserting their cooperation with the investigation.
The case has gained widespread national attention, leading the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance under the title “In Re Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the Unnatural Death of a Young Woman at Matrimonial Home.” A hearing by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant is set for Monday, May 25, 2026. The Madhya Pradesh government has also suggested transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Dr. Sudhir Gupta, Head of the Forensic Department at AIIMS Delhi, mentioned that the autopsy report would require detailed laboratory tests, including histopathology and viscera analysis. The AIIMS team plans to return to Delhi with samples, photographs, video documentation, and written findings for further scrutiny.
The cremation on Sunday offered some closure to Twisha Sharma's family, though they continue to seek justice amid intense scrutiny over the circumstances of her death. The family has consistently called for transparency and accountability, while the accused party insists on a fair legal process to reveal the truth.
As the Supreme Court is set to review the case, it remains a focal point of public and judicial concern, underscoring broader issues related to dowry deaths and procedural fairness in high-profile investigations.
