Bail Denied to Retired Judge in Twisha Sharma Dowry Death Case
A special court in Bhopal on Saturday rejected the bail plea of retired judge Giribala Singh, an accused in the dowry death case of model and actor Twisha Sharma. The court held that the charges against her were serious.
Ms. Singh is the mother-in-law of Twisha, who was found hanging at her marital home on May 12. Ms. Singh and her son Samarth Singh were arrested on charges of dowry-related harassment, mental abuse, and domestic violence. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
The bail application was initially listed before Special Judge Neelam Shukla, who recused herself. The case was then heard by Special Judge Ram Pratap Mishra, who reserved the order on July 24 after hearing arguments.
The defence sought bail on humanitarian grounds, citing Ms. Singh's age, health issues, and the need to care for her elderly mother. They argued that she had cooperated with the investigation and that the dowry demand allegation was implausible given her pension and income.
The CBI opposed the plea, stating that being a woman alone is not a ground for bail, especially when the deceased was also a woman. They noted that the Madhya Pradesh High Court had quashed her anticipatory bail, and that she had refused to provide a voice sample. The CBI also alleged that she attempted to influence the investigation by contacting a CCTV technician and a salon operator.
The court rejected the bail application, agreeing with the CBI that the accused could influence witnesses or tamper with evidence if released.
