MP High Court rejects bail for former judge Giribala Singh in Twisha Sharma death case

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the bail application of former district and sessions judge Giribala Singh in connection with the dowry death and suicide of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.

Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari ruled that the seriousness of the allegations, combined with crucial pending forensic reports, makes granting bail inappropriate at this stage. The court emphasised that meticulous investigation and judicial oversight remain essential to ensuring full accountability.

Twisha Sharma, a former model and actor, was found dead at her matrimonial residence on 12 May 2026 and was declared dead on arrival at AIIMS Bhopal. Police subsequently registered a case against the 64-year-old former judge and her son, advocate Samarth Singh, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act. Both have been in custody since late May.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which took over the probe, informed the court that critical electronic evidence is currently undergoing analysis at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi.

| Forensic Subject | Source Material | Current Status | Investigation Purpose || Mobile Phone Data | Primary phone of deceased | Analysis pending | Retrieve communications and digital transcripts || Residence DVR | Home CCTV recording unit | CFSL examination | Verify footage continuity and detect any tampering |

In its 23-page order, the bench noted that two separate post-mortem examinations — including one conducted by a specialized medical board at AIIMS New Delhi — confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia due to antemortem hanging.

The court highlighted that digital transcripts and WhatsApp communications recovered from the hours preceding Sharma's death reflected severe mental distress. CBI counsel Suyash Mohan Guru argued before the bench that attempts were made to tamper with evidence immediately following the incident, a factor the court held could not be discounted while the probe continues under Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Defence counsel Surendra Singh argued that Giribala Singh was innocent, had cooperated fully with investigators, and that electronic communications showed grievances primarily directed at her son. The defence also pointed to medical records indicating pre-existing depression and highlighted that the family had transferred ₹7.5 lakh to Sharma's account.

Justice Nirankari rejected the defence's submission regarding the absence of guilty intent at this stage, stating that claims cannot be evaluated in isolation from the broader sequence of events, CCTV footage, and subsequent conduct recorded in the case diary.

"Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material collected during investigation... this court is not inclined to enlarge the applicant on bail at this stage," Justice Nirankari stated in the order.

The decision underscores the commitment of the judicial process to uphold standard legal procedure and thoroughness, ensuring that all evidence is rigorously evaluated by law enforcement authorities.