The Madhya Pradesh High Court has denied bail to former judicial officer Giribala Singh who is in judicial custody in connection with the abetment of suicide of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma [Giribala Singh v The State of Madhya Pradesh]

Noida-based Twisha Sharma had married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh after the two met through a dating app. Barely five months into the marriage, Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.

Giribala Singh has been accused of subjecting Sharma to cruelty and abetting her suicide.

She was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, prompting her to approach the High Court seeking bail

In the order dated October 26, Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari said WhatsApp conversations exchanged between Sharma and her mother and sister-in-law indicated that Sharma was allegedly subjected to continuous mental harassment and cruelty by the accused persons. 

The Court also took note of the allegation that Samarth had questioned the paternity of the child before Sharma's termination of pregnancy.

"In her WhatsApp conversation dated 09.05.2026 with her sister-in-law, the deceased expressed severe mental distress and stated that her husband had crossed all limits by questioning the paternity of the child and asking whether the child was his or someone else's, and whether that was the reason she had aborted the pregnancy. She further expressed that she was unable to bear the situation and was feeling suffocated in the matrimonial relationship. The deceased also expressed thoughts of ending her life," the Court noted.

The Court also took note of a conversation in which Sharma revealed that accused persons suspected her of consuming drugs and attributed her disturbed mental condition to the same, without understanding the circumstances in which she was living. 

"These conversations, at this stage, prima facie indicate the mental distress allegedly experienced by the deceased prior to the incident," the bench said.

The Court noted that Giribala Singh had allegedly contacted certain influential persons around the time of the incident.

The circumstances surrounding such communications would also require examination during further investigation, the bench said.

"However, having regard to the WhatsApp conversations exchanged by the deceased with her family members immediately prior to the incident, the CCTV footage collected during investigation, the circumstances in which the deceased was found and the material relating to the subsequent conduct of the accused persons, this Court is of the view that the allegations and the respective roles of the accused persons require further investigation and careful examination during trial," the Court added.

Twisha Sharma's family has accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to persistent domestic violence and harassment over dowry demands, leading to the registration of an FIR at Katara Hills police station under various provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Dowry Prohibition Act.

Giribala Singh, former President of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Madhya Pradesh, was initially granted anticipatory bail by a sessions court. The Madhya Pradesh High Court later cancelled the relief after the State government and the victim's family challenged the order.

Meanwhile, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which arrested Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh.

Singhs have been charge sheeted by the CBI under Sections 85 (cruelty and harassment caused by husband and his family members) and 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Seeking bail in the matter, Giribala Singh argued that while she was unhappy with her daughter-in-law's decision to abort her child, she had neither subjected her to cruelty nor abetted her suicide.

Her counsel also said that there was no allegation of evidence tampering since the day the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe.

However, the Court said the data extraction from Sharma's iPhone was still awaited. The extraction may reveal further material relevant to the allegations against the accused persons and may also assist in identifying other witnesses connected with the incident, it added.

The Court further said that the extracted data from the DVR installed at the Giribala's residence has been forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi for forensic examination, particularly to ascertain the continuity and authenticity of the CCTV footage. 

"The forensic report is still awaited. In the event that any alteration or tampering with the recorded data is detected, the same may require further investigation," the Court observed while denying bail to her.

Senior Advocates Surendra Singh and Ajay Gupta represented Giribala Singh. 

Additional Solicitor General Sunil Jain and Deputy Solicitor General Mohan Guru represented the CBI. 

Senior Advocates Siddharth Luthra and Siddharth Agrawal represented the complainant. 

[Read Order]