A Bride Dies. Rival Claims of Murder and Suicide Set Off Media Frenzy

In 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.

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.

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 BBC Hindi that they have lodged a case of dowry death against the Singhs and are investigating whether Twisha's death was murder or suicide.

- Author: Geeta Pandey and Vishnukant Tiwari, BBC

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