Supreme Court Cautions Media, Orders CBI Probe in Twisha Sharma Case

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the public narrative suggesting the judiciary was delaying a fair investigation into the death of 33-year-old model and actor Twisha Sharma, while directing the media to refrain from broadcasting statements from the victim's family or the accused. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, was hearing a suo motu case initiated over allegations of institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the initial investigation.

"We are slightly in pain because of some of the actions," the Chief Justice said. "We will request our media friends to not go for the statements of the victim's family or the other family. Let the things move as per law and procedure." The court urged both sides to record their statements with the investigating agency rather than making them in public, and appealed to the media not to reduce the family's pain to sound bites.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, informed the court that the Central Bureau of Investigation would take over the probe and that administrative steps would be taken...