A district court on Friday (24th July) rejected the bail application of ex-judge Giribala Singh, who is an accused in the case relating to the death of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma. The court said that releasing her at this stage of the case could lead to evidence being influenced.
The court reportedly remarked that the prosecution’s apprehension that evidence could be affected if the former judge was released on bail “cannot be said to be unfounded”.
First Additional Sessions Judge Ram Pratap Mishra considered the material collected during the investigation of the case, including WhatsApp chats, call-detail records and statements of Twisha’s family members. The judge noted that the case diary contained sufficient material to indicate her involvement.
“The material available in the case diary indicates the involvement of the applicant/accused in the offence. The alleged offence is a serious crime against a woman and is punishable with imprisonment for life. If the applicant/accused is granted the benefit of bail, there is a possibility that the evidence may be influenced,” the court said.
Earlier, a Bhopal Court had extended the judicial custody of Giribala Singh and her son, Samarth Singh, who is also an accused in the case, by 14 days. The court had granted the extension on the plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as the investigation in the case is not yet over.
Giribala Singh’s bail application was initially listed before Special Judge Neelam Shukla, who recused herself from hearing the matter. Subsequently, it was transferred to the court of Special Judge Ram Pratap Mishra, where detailed arguments were heard.
Twisha Sharma death case
Twisha Sharma, a former Miss Pune winner and actor-model from Noida, was found dead at her matrimonial house in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on the night of 12th May. She had married Advocate Samarth Singh on 25th December last year. The couple had met through a dating app around five months before their marriage.
Twisha’s family has accused her husband and in-laws of continuous mental harassment, domestic violence and financial pressure after marriage. On 23rd May, the Supreme Court registered a suo motu case in connection with the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, a resident of Noida, after concerns were raised over the investigation and the handling of evidence in the case.
