'Maa-Baap Ke Zinda Rehte Hue Bacche Ka Chala Jaana...': Twisha Sharma's Father Laments As Daughter Laid To Rest 12 Days After Mysterious Death

Bhopal: Actress and former Miss Pune Twisha Sharma was laid to rest on Sunday evening as grieving family members and loved ones gathered at Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to say their last goodbyes to her. Struggling to keep his tears at bay, Twisha's father Navnidhi Sharma addressed the people gathered at the condolence meeting held after the last rites.

“Aaj muhje ye realise hota hai ki maa-baap ke zinda rehte hue bacche ka chala jaana…(The passing away of children while their parents are still alive is heartbreaking),” Twisha's father said.

Remembering how his daughter took care of him and his wife, Navnidhi Sharma said, “Bacche jab bade ho jaata hai, to ulta ho jaata hai…maa-baap bacche jaise ho jaate hai...[Twisha] humara bacche jaisa khayal rakhti thi...Meri patni ka bohot khayal rakhti thi. (When children grow up, parents become like kids…Twisha used to take care of us as if we were kids.)”

‘Don't Know How We'll Live Without Her'

The father also remembered the little things Twisha used to do, like wishing them “good night” and kissing her mother before going to bed. Recalling the little actions of his daughter, the grief-stricken father lamented, “Pata nahi uske bina kaise reh paayenge (I don't know how will we live without her).”

Grieving Father Hopes For Justice

During the condolence meeting, Navnidhi Sharma also expressed hope that his daughter will get justice.

Thanking everyone else who are supporting him in the struggle for justice, Twisha's father said, “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.”

He also thanked the Supreme Court for taking suo motu cognisance of the case.

Family Members Break Down At Twisha's Last Rites

Twisha was cremated at Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat in Bhopal. Heartbreaking visuals from the crematorium showed Twisha's mother Rekha Sharma crying inconsolably.

Father Navnidhi Sharma also broke down in tears as family members laid garlands on Twisha's mortal remains.

Twisha's brother Major Harshit Sharma performed rituals of the last rites and lit fire to her funeral pyre.

The funeral was held shortly after Twisha's body was handed over to her grieving family from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal mortuary after senior doctors of AIIMS Delhi conducted her second autopsy. The second post-mortem was necessitated after serious lapses were flagged in the first one.

Twisha's Mysterious Death 5 Months After Wedding

Twisha Sharma, who was 33 years old, married to Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh just five months before she was found hanging from the rooftop of her matrimonial home under mysterious circumstances.

Earlier suspected to be a case of suicide, Twisha's death mystery deepened as her family alleged that she was murdered. Suspicious heightened over the nature and the cause of her death since her husband went missing after her death.

Twisha's family also pointed to multiple injury marks on her body, alleging that she was murdered, and did not commit suicide. It is also alleged that Twisha terminated her pregnancy after her husband questioned her whose child she was carrying, accusing her of having extra-marital affair.

Further, Samarth's mother Giri Bala Singh, who is a former judge, dialled several influential people shortly after Twisha's death, giving rise to allegations of “judicial cover-up”.

Mental Torture At Matrimonial Home

Twisha's family has alleged that Twisha was mentally tortured by her in-laws.

A audio conversation, purportedly between Twisha's mother-in-law Giri Bala Singh and Twisha’s brother Major Harshit Sharma, captured an intense exchange over deeply personal questions allegedly posed to Twisha about her past relationships and sexual history shortly before her death.

In the tape, the authenticity of which has not been independently verified, Giri Bala Singh is heard defending questions asked to Twisha about whether she had “been with other men”, whether she had engaged in relationships “for favours”, and whether such behaviour would continue after marriage.

“Promiscuity can be a habit,” the retired judge is heard saying in the conversation while explaining why she questioned Twisha about her past.

In one of the most disturbing portions of the audio, Giri Bala Singh is allegedly heard drawing comparisons between Twisha’s past relationships and women involved in prostitution while attempting to justify the questions posed to her daughter-in-law.

Referring to a previous conversation with Twisha, the retired judge says she had worked in Reshampura in Gwalior and had “worked with prostitutes”, before adding that “some people sell their brains, so they earn… some people sell their bodies, so they earn.”

She then allegedly goes on to ask Twisha whether she had ever engaged in relationships “to get some monetary benefit” or “to climb the social ladder”.

The audio further suggests that Twisha had complained that her husband Samarth Singh allegedly abused her using the slur “r***i”, an allegation discussed during the exchange.

At one point in the tape, Major Harshit Sharma confronts Giri Bala Singh over what he describes as humiliating and emotionally damaging questioning of his sister.

Twisha's Desperate Calls For Help

Just months her seemingly perfect wedding with Samarth, Twisha reached out to her mother on WhatsApp, lamenting that her life had become hell: “Mera jeevan narak ho gaya hai mummy.”

In chats dating May 7, Twisha was seen begging her mother to come and rescue her from her in-laws' place.

She told her mother, “Maa, aap mujhe yaha se lene aa jaao kal please. I don't think Samarth ko ab mai chaheye hu…Pata nahi ab maine kya kiya, Samarth ne kaha hai 1 saal se jhel rahe hai mujhe. Mujhe nahi samajh aaraha hai mummy mai karu toh kya karu. (Maa, please come to take me. I don't think Samarth wants me anymore. I don't know what I did. He told me that he is tolerating me for 1 year. I can't understand what should I do.”)

The chats also revealed that she was desperate to get out of her husband's home. She told her mother to take ticket for the next day itself, saying, “Direct train bhi hai.”

Husband In Police Custody

Twisha's husband Samarth Singh has been sent to police custody for seven days in the alleged dowry death of his wife. Police have reportedly also claimed that he is not cooperating with the investigation.

Notably, he had been absconding for 10 days after Twisha's death.