Twisha Sharma Dowry Death Case: Bhopal Court Denies Bail to Retired Judge Giribala Singh

A special court in Bhopal on Saturday rejected the bail application of retired judge Giribala Singh, an accused in the Twisha Sharma dowry death case, observing that the allegations against her were grave and the investigation was still underway.

Giribala Singh, the mother-in-law of former model and actor Twisha Sharma, has been accused of dowry-related harassment, mental cruelty and domestic violence. Twisha was allegedly found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, following which Singh and her son Samarth Singh were arrested. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the case.

The bail plea was initially listed before Special Judge Neelam Shukla, who recused herself from hearing the matter. The case was subsequently transferred to Special Judge Ram Pratap Mishra, who heard detailed submissions from both sides before reserving the order on Friday. The court pronounced its decision on Saturday, dismissing the plea.

The defence sought bail on humanitarian grounds, arguing that Giribala Singh is an elderly woman with health complications and was not receiving adequate medical treatment in jail. It also submitted that her nearly 100-year-old mother depends on her for care. The defence further contended that Singh had cooperated with investigators, suffered a burglary at her residence during her custody, and drew a regular salary along with a war widow's pension, making allegations of dowry demand improbable.

The CBI, however, strongly opposed the application, arguing that gender alone could not justify bail in a case involving the death of another woman. The agency also pointed out that the Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier quashed the anticipatory bail granted to Singh by a lower court.

According to the probe agency, Singh allegedly refused to provide her voice sample during the investigation and attempted to influence the probe by contacting individuals linked to the case, including a CCTV technician and a salon operator. The CBI further alleged that she had sent a private representative to obtain CCTV footage and warned that her release could lead to witness intimidation, evidence tampering or interference with the ongoing investigation.

After considering the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence, the special court concluded that the seriousness of the allegations and the stage of the investigation did not warrant granting bail to the accused.