Two Young Brides, Two Tragic Deaths: Twisha Sharma and Deepika Nagar Cases Revive Debate on Dowry Harassment in India
Two families in Noida and Greater Noida are mourning unimaginable loss after the deaths of their daughters, Twisha Sharma and Deepika Nagar, both of whom died within months of marriage under circumstances now being investigated by police.
Their grieving families have accused the women’s in-laws of dowry harassment, once again drawing attention to a social evil that continues to claim lives decades after dowry was outlawed in India.
Though their lives unfolded in very different worlds, both stories ended in heartbreak.
Twisha Sharma, 33, had built a career in modelling, acting and corporate communication before moving to Bhopal after her marriage in December 2025.
Deepika Nagar, 24, came from a quieter background in Greater Noida and had recently begun her married life in Ecotech.
Today, both families are seeking justice while struggling to understand how hope and celebration turned into tragedy so quickly.
Twisha Sharma: From Modelling and Films to a Marriage Under Scrutiny
Twisha Sharma was known among friends and colleagues as ambitious, creative and deeply independent. She entered the modelling world as a teenager between 2009 and 2012 and later earned recognition after winning the Miss Pune title.
The achievement opened doors to advertising campaigns, regional cinema and professional opportunities in media and communication.
According to her family, Twisha balanced glamour with academics and professional growth. She completed an MBA and pursued multiple interests ranging from marketing and digital communication to filmmaking and wellness.
Her LinkedIn profile reflected a life filled with aspirations — actor, filmmaker, communications expert and digital creator.
Her father, Navnidhi Sharma, described her as someone full of life and determination. He recalled how she travelled internationally for professional presentations in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia and participated in several advertising campaigns.
Family members say she also appeared in commercials for major beauty brands and had travelled to Australia for a film shoot shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the entertainment industry.
Friends remember Twisha not only for her career achievements but also for her spiritual side. She was reportedly a certified yoga instructor and actively practised Vipassana meditation.
Those close to her describe her as disciplined, thoughtful and emotionally sensitive.
Twisha married Samarth Singh in December 2025 after the two connected through a matrimonial platform.
Samarth, a lawyer by profession, studied at the prestigious National Law School of India University and had also participated in an Erasmus exchange programme at Ghent University in Belgium.
His professional profile mentions experience as a legal adviser to the Madhya Pradesh government between 2023 and 2025. His mother, Giribala Singh, is a retired district judge.
However, according to police records and allegations made by Twisha’s family, the marriage soon became troubled.
The FIR filed based on her family’s complaint alleges repeated taunts over dowry, emotional harassment and accusations targeting Twisha’s character.
Her parents also alleged that she faced pressure regarding her pregnancy and was accused of carrying another man’s child.
They further claimed she underwent an abortion after sustained pressure from her husband and mother-in-law.
Giribala Singh has denied the allegations and claimed that Twisha had been undergoing psychiatric treatment and struggling with substance abuse.
According to her version, Twisha’s mental health deteriorated in the days leading up to her death.
Twisha was found dead at her in-laws’ residence in Bhopal on May 12. Her postmortem report listed the cause of death as “antemortem hanging by ligature.”
At the same time, the autopsy also noted multiple injuries on different parts of her body that were described as simple injuries, possibly caused by blunt force.
The investigation later came under criticism after it emerged that the investigating officer allegedly failed to present the nylon belt believed to have been used in the hanging.
Medical experts noted that without the alleged ligature material, it was difficult to scientifically establish whether the injury marks matched the object reportedly used.
Police have registered a case against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh. While Samarth is currently absconding, his mother has secured anticipatory bail.
Deepika Nagar: A Young Bride’s Death Raises More Questions
In Greater Noida, another grieving family is demanding accountability after the death of 24-year-old Deepika Nagar, who had married Ritik in December 2024.
Deepika died after allegedly falling from the roof of her matrimonial home in Ecotech.
Her family claims that beneath the appearance of a newly married household, Deepika had been facing emotional and physical pressure linked to dowry demands.
Her sister, Sarika, alleged that Deepika was made to shoulder the entire burden of household work despite suffering health complications and weakness following two abortions caused by medical issues.
According to Sarika, Deepika often complained of physical exhaustion and pain in her feet but continued managing household responsibilities largely on her own.
Her family says they repeatedly tried to encourage her to prioritise her health, but she allegedly continued facing pressure inside the home.
Deepika was an Integrated BA B.Ed graduate, and her family says they had spent more than Rs 1 crore on the wedding.
According to her relatives, the gifts included a Scorpio N SUV, cash, gold jewellery, furniture and other valuables traditionally exchanged during marriages.
Her sister alleged that even after these gifts were given, the demands continued. When the in-laws reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the furniture, Deepika’s father allegedly arranged a replacement bed.
Sarika also claimed that before Karva Chauth, additional expectations for gifts, jewellery and cash were raised under the guise of customary traditions.
Deepika’s postmortem report reportedly found severe internal injuries, including a blood clot in the brain, a ruptured spleen and bruises across her body.
Police sources stated that while many injuries were consistent with a fall, some appeared to have occurred before her death, raising further suspicion.
Police have arrested Deepika’s husband, Ritik and his father, Manoj, in connection with the case.
Dowry Deaths Continue Despite Strict Laws
India enacted the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, more than six decades ago to criminalise the giving and taking of dowry.
The law prescribes strict punishment, including imprisonment, for those involved in dowry-related offences.
In addition, Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita defines “dowry death” as the death of a woman occurring under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage if she was subjected to cruelty or harassment connected to dowry demands shortly before her death.
The offence carries a punishment ranging from seven years in prison to life imprisonment.
Yet the persistence of such cases reveals how deeply entrenched dowry practices remain in Indian society.
Expensive gifts, cash transactions and social expectations continue to be normalised in many communities under the label of tradition.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2024 Crime in India report, the country recorded 5,737 dowry deaths in a single year — an average of nearly 15 women dying every day.
Among metropolitan cities, Delhi reported the highest number of such deaths, highlighting how the problem cuts across regions, classes and educational backgrounds.
For the families of Twisha Sharma and Deepika Nagar, however, these are no longer just statistics.
They are deeply personal tragedies — stories of daughters they raised with dreams, only to lose them in circumstances now at the centre of painful legal battles and unanswered questions.
