'We are slightly in pain': CJI-led Supreme Court bench urges media to drop 'judiciary shielding accused' narrative

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday restrained potential witnesses and the accused in the Twisha Sharma death case from making statements to the media, while clarifying that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations surrounding the actor-model’s death in Bhopal.

Disposing of the suo motu proceedings initiated over alleged institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the investigation, the bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said all aspects of the case would have to be independently examined by the investigating agency.



“While making these observations, it is clarified that we have not expressed any opinion on any of the allegations or otherwise and it is entirely on the investigating agency to look into the different aspects,” the court said in its order.

The apex court directed that family members of both the victim and the accused, as well as potential witnesses, should refrain from making public statements and instead place their versions before the investigating agency so that the ongoing probe is not prejudiced. The bench also recorded the assurance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a decision regarding a CBI investigation would be taken shortly.

Also read: Twisha Sharma case in Supreme Court: Suspicious death, dowry allegations, CBI probe - what happened so far

During the hearing, the court repeatedly expressed concern over media commentary and competing public narratives surrounding the case. Chief Justice Kant said the court was “slightly at pain because of some of the actions” and stressed that the investigation must proceed “fairly, independently and impartially.”

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the accused, argued that statements recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC had appeared in newspapers the very next day. Solicitor General Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, alleged that the accused’s mother, a former district judge, had been “hopping from channel to channel almost maligning the deceased.”

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Twisha Sharma’s family, alleged procedural lapses in the initial investigation, including delay in registration of the FIR and failure to preserve evidence.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Mehta also remarked that “it is better to have a divorced daughter than face such an unfortunate incident.”

The legal proceedings in the Twisha Sharma death case have now reached the Supreme Court, which has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter under the title, In Re Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the Unnatural Death of a Young Woman at Matrimonial Home.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant is hearing the case amid allegations by the victim’s family of procedural lapses and institutional bias in the initial investigation into the 26-year-old actor-model’s death in Bhopal earlier this month.

Twisha Sharma's family has also moved the high court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to retired judge Giribala Singh by a Bhopal sessions court. Singh is expected to argue her own case before the high court.

However, advocate Enosh George Carlo has filed a vakalatnama on her behalf. Dismissing reports carried by a section of the media, Carlo denied that he had withdrawn from the case.

Also read: ‘They will bring justice’: Twisha’s father hopeful as AIIMS team reaches Bhopal for 2nd autopsy

Speaking after the cremation on Sunday, Twisha’s father Navnidhi Sharma welcomed the apex court’s intervention, describing it as a crucial step toward ensuring accountability in the case. “We do not know how we will live without her. I thank everyone who supported us. She will get justice. This case will become an example and restore people’s faith in the judicial process. I thank the Supreme Court for taking suo motu cognisance of the matter,” he said.

Twisha Sharma’s last rites were performed at a crematorium in Bhopal by her brother, Major Harshit Sharma, after her mortal remains were handed over to the family following a second autopsy conducted by a medical board from AIIMS Delhi.

The family had earlier refused to accept the body and demanded an independent post-mortem examination, alleging inconsistencies in the initial autopsy and raising questions over the circumstances surrounding her death at her matrimonial home.