A district court in Bhopal has rejected the bail application of retired judge Giribala Singh, who is accused in the dowry death case of her daughter-in-law, model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma. The court observed that releasing Giribala Singh at this stage could influence evidence in the case, and noted that the case diary contains sufficient material indicating her alleged involvement.
The court’s decision was based on material collected during the investigation, including WhatsApp chats, call-detail records, and statements of Twisha’s family members. The court said that the material available in the case diary indicates Giribala Singh’s involvement in the offence, and that granting her bail could lead to the evidence being influenced. The court also noted that Giribala Singh had served as Principal District and Sessions Judge in Bhopal and was serving as Chairperson of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bhopal, at the time of the incident.
Twisha, who had married Giribala Singh’s son Samarth Singh on December 9, 2025, died by suicide on May 12, 2026, within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that she was subjected to physical and mental harassment over dowry demands. The court noted that the offence under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to dowry death, is punishable with life imprisonment and is a serious offence against women.
The court rejected the defence’s plea that Giribala Singh’s age, her status as a woman, her 100-year-old mother, and her religious activities justified bail, observing that these could not outweigh the gravity of the allegations. The court also held that medical records did not indicate any serious illness warranting release on bail, and that treatment could be provided in judicial custody if required.
The case has taken a dramatic turn after Twisha’s family alleged that she had been subjected to sustained physical and mental harassment over dowry demands, and that her husband and mother-in-law had questioned the paternity of her pregnancy, allegedly forcing her to undergo an abortion. The Madhya Pradesh Police registered an FIR against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh under provisions relating to dowry death, cruelty, and the Dowry Prohibition Act. Twisha’s family has sought a CBI probe, alleging serious lapses in the initial investigation and handling of evidence.
