Key Points
- The CBI arrested retired judge Giribala Singh on Thursday, a day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled her anticipatory bail, following 6.5 hours of questioning at her residence.
- The CBI had told the High Court that custodial interrogation of Giribala Singh was essential, citing unexplained injuries on Twisha’s body, WhatsApp evidence, and allegations of dowry harassment, forced abortion, and evidence tampering.
- Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old actor-model, was found hanging at her husband’s residence on the night of May 12, within six months of their marriage. Giribala had served in the judicial service for 36 years.
- Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, remains in CBI custody until May 29, undergoing continuous interrogation.
A CBI team arrived at Giribala Singh’s residence in Katara Hills, Bhopal, on Thursday morning. The team questioned her for several hours in a focused interrogation, following the High Court’s overnight order cancelling her anticipatory bail.
During the search, the agency also deployed high-intensity 3D cameras to record a 360-degree scan of the house and surrounding area. Forensic evidence was simultaneously collected, and officials examined sightlines from nearby rooftops and balconies to assess visibility of the crime scene.
The CBI had re-registered the Madhya Pradesh Police FIR, naming both Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused, after the case was transferred to the central agency last week.
What the CBI Told the High Court
Opposing Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail in court, the CBI alleged she had gone to considerable lengths to damage Twisha Sharma’s reputation. The agency accused her of dowry harassment, forcing Twisha to terminate a pregnancy, and attempting to tamper with evidence.
According to the CBI, injuries found on Twisha’s body, including wrist and elbow marks, remained unexplained by her in-laws. A medical query report confirmed these injuries could not have resulted from the process of removing the body from the ligature.
The agency further stated that WhatsApp chats recovered during the probe showed that Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh had questioned Twisha’s character after she became pregnant, and that she was subsequently coerced into undergoing an abortion based on allegations that the child belonged to someone else.
Why the High Court Cancelled Bail
Vacation judge Devnarayan Mishra, in a 17-page verdict, noted that the anticipatory bail granted on May 15 by the sessions court had been revoked in light of the factual aspects of the case and the gravity of allegations levelled against Giribala Singh.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State, contended that the original relief had been granted hurriedly despite the seriousness of the charges. The Court observed that the lower court had failed to properly examine the case diary and available evidence, including WhatsApp chats and witness statements pointing to mental harassment, coercion, and dowry demands.
The Court also took note of indications that the accused had attempted to influence the investigation and tarnish the reputation of the deceased, treating this as conduct incompatible with the grant of anticipatory relief.
Samarth Singh Still in CBI Custody
Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, remains in CBI remand until May 29. The agency is continuously interrogating him regarding the sequence of events on the night of May 12, activities following the incident, and digital evidence recovered during the investigation. Twisha’s family welcomed the High Court order and the subsequent arrest, stating that justice has been served.
