MPHC Quashes Ex-Judge Giribala Singh’s Anticipatory Bail in Twisha Sharma Death Case
BHOPAL/The Madhya Pradesh High Court has quashed the anticipatory bail granted to former judge Giribala Singh, accused in the death case of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma, citing the factual aspects of the case and the allegations levelled against her.
A sessions court in Bhopal had granted anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh on May 15. She and her son Samarth Singh are accused of dowry harassment in connection with Twisha’s death. Samarth Singh, a lawyer, is currently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which recently took over the probe from the Madhya Pradesh Police.
Allowing applications seeking cancellation of Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail, vacation judge Justice Devnarayan Mishra observed in a 17-page order on Wednesday that “in light of the factual aspects of the case and the allegations levelled against the respondent”, the anticipatory bail order passed by the additional sessions judge deserved to be quashed.
Appearing for the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the manner in which anticipatory bail was obtained raised doubts over whether the trial court had adequately considered the relevant aspects required for granting such relief, the order noted.
The Madhya Pradesh government had handed over the probe to the CBI after Twisha Sharma’s family met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and demanded a CBI inquiry.
The CBI formally took over the investigation on Monday into the death of Twisha Sharma, who was allegedly found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. The agency re-registered the FIR earlier lodged by the state police, naming Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused.
Meanwhile, a CBI team on Thursday visited the accused’s residence and questioned Giribala Singh, sources said.
During the hearing, counsel for the victim’s family argued that Twisha Sharma was allegedly subjected to continuous mental harassment and was “badly stuck” in her matrimonial home.
“Finally, justice has been done in the Twisha case. Giribala Singh was in judicial service for 36 years. If she has any respect for the law, wisdom should prevail and she should gracefully surrender before the CBI and cooperate with the investigation,” the counsel told reporters.
The petitioners also alleged before the court that Giribala Singh attempted to influence evidence after securing anticipatory bail.
According to submissions made before the court, the police had seized CCTV footage from Giribala Singh’s residence on May 13, but selective clips were later circulated on social media allegedly with the intention of influencing the investigation.
The prosecution argued that given the seriousness of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the case, the trial court ought to have examined the evidence more carefully before granting anticipatory bail, sources said.
