The possibility of former judge Giribala Singh’s arrest has intensified after the CBI reached her Bhopal residence in the Twisha Sharma death case.
The possibility of former judge Giribala Singh’s arrest has intensified after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team reached her residence in Bhopal on Thursday, hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed her anticipatory bail in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.
The CBI team arrived at Singh’s house in the Bag Mughaliya extension area of Bhopal following the High Court’s order rejecting the protection earlier granted to her by a sessions court.
The agency questioned Giribala Singh after the court order, while investigators were assessing the next course of action, including whether custodial interrogation was necessary.
Madhya Pradesh Advocate General Prashant Singh said the High Court had taken serious note of several aspects of the case while rejecting Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail plea.
“The High Court has taken serious note of certain observations in the case, like seven antemortem injuries on the body of Twisha Sharma, indicating a serious crime, non-cooperation by Giribala Singh despite several notices and WhatsApp chats indicating mental harassment of Twisha Sharma,” the Advocate General said.
“Looking at all this, the High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail of Giribala Singh. Now, it is up to the CBI to decide whether or not a custodial interrogation needs to be done,” he said.
The High Court on Wednesday quashed the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh on May 15 by the 10th Additional Sessions Judge in Bhopal.
In its 17-page order, vacation judge Justice Devnarayan Mishra observed that “in the light of the factual aspects of the case and the allegations levelled against the respondent,” the anticipatory bail deserved to be quashed.
The development has fueled speculation over whether the former judge could now be arrested as the CBI deepens its probe.
CBI TAKES OVER PROBE AFTER SUPREME COURT DIRECTION
The Central Bureau of Investigation formally took over the Twisha Sharma death case earlier this week after directions from the Supreme Court.
The apex court ordered a centralized CBI inquiry following hearings involving multiple legal proceedings pending before the trial court, High Court and Supreme Court.
The agency subsequently re-registered the FIR earlier filed by the Madhya Pradesh Police against Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh.
Samarth Singh, a lawyer and Twisha Sharma’s husband, is already in CBI custody.
The case pertains to the death of Twisha Sharma, a Noida resident who was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.
Her family has alleged prolonged mental torture and dowry harassment by her husband and in-laws.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS PLACED BEFORE COURT
The prosecution and counsels representing Twisha Sharma’s family made several allegations before the High Court during the hearing seeking cancellation of Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail.
Counsels argued that Twisha was “badly stuck” in her matrimonial home and was allegedly subjected to continuous mental harassment.
The prosecution also alleged that Giribala Singh attempted to influence evidence after securing anticipatory bail.
Police had seized CCTV footage from her residence on May 13, but selective clips were allegedly circulated on social media later with the intention of influencing the investigation.
Twisha’s counsel further claimed before the High Court that Giribala Singh addressed a press conference after obtaining bail and attempted to malign the image of the deceased.
The prosecution additionally argued that Giribala Singh used her experience from judicial service to tamper with the crime scene and that the trial court should have appreciated the</p