The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to Twisha Sharma’s mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, in the dowry death case..Justice Devnarayan Mishra had heard the matter earlier in the day and the order cancelling anticipatory bail was made available by the around midnight. "In light of above factual aspects of the case and the allegation levelled against the respondent (Giribala Singh), the anticipatory bail order dated 15.05.2026 passed in BA No.1485/2026 by 10th Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal in Crime No.133/2026 (newly registered as Book No.1504 Serial No.10, District-New Delhi, P.S. SC-III/ND vide FIR No.RC0522026S0004 dated 25.05.2026) for the offense punishable under Sections 80(2), 85, 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 3 & 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, is hereby quashed," the order stated. The Court noted that the statements from Sharma's family includes allegations not just against her husband Samarth Singh, but also against Giribala Singh. Even some WhatsApp messages Sharma had sent her family before her death included allegations against the mother-in-law, the Court said.Further, the Court noted that the post mortem report indicated that Sharma had suffered additional injuries before her death. "As per postmortem report, the death was due to antemortem hanging by ligature but from the postmortem, it is also clear that six other injuries were found in the body of the deceased in which four injuries were on the left arm, one in ring figure and one is on the head and that was antemortem. From the query report, it is also clear that these injuries were not caused due to taking out the body from the ligature or carrying out to the hospital," the Court said. .Noida-based Twisha Sharma had married Samarth Singh, a Bhopal-based lawyer, five months ago after meeting through a dating app. She was found dead at her residence in Bhopal on May 12.Sharma's family has blamed her in-laws for the death, accusing them of persistent domestic violence and harassment. An FIR was registered by the Katara Hills police station to probe the death. Singh's mother Giribala Singh is a retired judge and currently serves as the president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Madhya Pradesh. She was granted anticipatory bail by a sessions court on May 15. The trial court reasoned that the allegations mainly pertained to Twisha Sharma's husband, Samarth Singh.Twisha Sharma's father, Navnidhi Sharma, as well as the State of Madhya Pradesh challenged the May 15 order of the trial court..During the hearings of the appeals, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, who appeared for Twisha Sharma's father, argued that the parents were not involved in the inquest as they had not been informed of the death. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the State government, contended that the sessions court had granted anticipatory bail in a very hasty manner without considering all the facts of the case. Both Luthra and Mehta also took objection to Giribala Singh's interactions with the media. They flagged that the former judge had been giving interviews maligning Twisha Sharma's character. "The person is wielding power in the institution. It is by those who has the wherewithal. The bail was granted same day. The (trial) court could have waited a day or two examined well. The petitioner was a former judge and continuing judicial officer. Somebody has lost a life. In less than 24 hours, bail is granted. In a situation where people are languishing in jail, she got relief within 24 hours...Press conferences are held with confidence few politicians exhibit. It influences witnesses. It creates a narrative. The lady (Twisha Sharma) has liberal views. Are you casting aspersions on the character? On the daughter-in-law? The narrative was that she has liberal views. The mother of the deceased says contact your mother-in-law. This is the mistake every mother says. This is problem in India. We say try and pull on. This results in a situation which leads to nothing but suicide," Mehta summed up..Advocate General Prashant Singh, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), turned the Court's attention to the post mortem report, which said that injuries on Twisha's body were caused before her death..Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for Giribala Singh, said that there were no allegations against her client warranting custodial interrogation. She also pointed to the fact that Giribala Singh is in her 60's. She further claimed that she had given statements to the media only because they were hounding her at her residence. The Court after considering the arguments decided to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Singh.Advocates Yash S Vijay and Enosh George assisted Ramakrishnan in representing Giribala Singh..Samarth Singh, Twisha Sharma's husband, had also moved High Court for protection from arrest after being denied anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court. However, he withdrew his bail plea on May 22, with the High Court saying he could either surrender before the investigating officer or the trial court.Earlier, Sharma's family had filed a plea demanding a second post-mortem to ascertain the actual cause of Sharma's death, which the High Court permitted on May 22. The Court ordered a team of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi to conduct the enquiry in Bhopal.
