Twisha Sharma death case: Hearing on mother-in-law Giribala Singh’s pre-arrest bail adjourned till May 27

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday adjourned the hearing on pleas seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to retired district judge Giribala Singh in the alleged dowry death case of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.

The court adjourned the matter till May 27.

Giribala Singh was granted anticipatory bail by a Bhopal sessions court earlier this month.

Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12.





Her family alleged that she was subjected to dowry harassment and abetment to suicide by her husband, lawyer Samarth Singh, and his family. Her in-laws, however, claimed she suffered from drug addiction.

The case has drawn national attention after the Supreme Court of India directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into Sharma’s death amid allegations of institutional bias in the investigation.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court of India said it would ensure a “fair, independent, and impartial” probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into Sharma’s death, while expressing concern over the narrative that the judiciary was shielding the accused.

“We are slightly in pain because of some of the actions. 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,” a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said.

“We request the media not to record statements of the victim's family and reduce their pain to sound bites,” the bench added.

Police have registered an FIR against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh on charges of dowry harassment.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the apex court that the CBI would take over the probe and assured that administrative formalities would be completed immediately.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the case after media reports raised questions over alleged institutional bias in the investigation because the accused included a lawyer and a former district judge.

The case is titled ‘In Re: Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the Unnatural Death of Young Woman at Matrimonial Home’.

Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, told the court that Twisha’s mother-in-law had appeared on television channels and made statements allegedly maligning the victim, which intensified media attention around the case.

He also informed the court that a second autopsy of Sharma’s body was conducted on Sunday by a team from AIIMS Bhopal following directions of the high court.

Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the accused, raised concerns over media coverage and said the entire Section 164 CrPC statement had been published in newspapers.

The apex court urged both families to refrain from making public statements and instead cooperate with investigators.

“We also request the media to avoid recording statements of persons who are likely to be potential witnesses, as it may unnecessarily impact the outcomes on certain issues which are to be investigated,” the bench said.

“We also request the public that they should refrain from speculation and to have trust and faith in one of the premier investigating agencies. We are sure that in due course of time it will take the investigation to a conclusion,” it added while disposing of the suo motu case.