WhatsApp chats, injury marks, harassment claims: Why high court quashed Giribala Singh's bail in Twisha Sharma case

BHOPAL: A CBI team on Thursday reached the residence of former judge Giribala Singh, mother-in-law of deceased Twisha Sharma, a day after the Madhya Pradesh high court quashed the anticipatory bail granted to her in the high-profile case.CBI officials were seen entering Giribala Singh’s residence in Bag Mughaliya Extension area of the state capital. Sources said the agency questioned her following the high court order. The development came after Justice Devnarayan Mishra of the Madhya Pradesh high court set aside the May 15 order of a Bhopal sessions court that had granted anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh, who, along with her son Samarth Singh.In its 17-page order, the high court observed that “in the light of the factual aspects of the case and the allegations levelled against the respondent (Giribala Singh),” the anticipatory bail granted by the trial court deserved to be quashed.The CBI had formally taken over the probe into Twisha Sharma’s death earlier this week after re-registering the FIR initially lodged by Madhya Pradesh Police against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh.Twisha Sharma was allegedly found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.During the hearing, counsels appearing for Twisha Sharma’s family argued that the deceased was allegedly subjected to mental harassment and was “badly stuck” in her matrimonial home. The petitioners also alleged that Giribala Singh tried to influence evidence after obtaining anticipatory bail.According to submissions made before the high court, police had seized CCTV footage from Giribala Singh’s residence on May 13, but selective clips were later circulated on social media, allegedly with the intention of influencing the investigation.The prosecution argued that the trial court failed to properly appreciate the seriousness of allegations and the evidence placed before it while granting anticipatory bail.Samarth Singh, a lawyer by profession, is currently in CBI custody as part of the ongoing investigation.Why court rejected Giribala Singh's anticipatory bail* The HC ruled that the trial court failed to adequately consider material available in the case diary, witness statements and allegations made by the deceased’s family while granting relief.* The court observed that statements recorded from Twisha Sharma’s family members since May 13 contained allegations that Giribala Singh, along with her son, had allegedly harassed the deceased and pressured her to terminate her pregnancy.* The court also noted that WhatsApp chats and post-mortem findings, including multiple ante-mortem injuries, required deeper investigation.* The HC further took note of submissions by the prosecution and CBI that they had allegedly not cooperated fully with the investigation despite notices and that custodial interrogation could be necessary given the serious nature of allegations and the stage of the probe.* Concluding that relevant facts had not been properly appreciated, the court quashed the anticipatory bail order and allowed the petitions challenging it.(With agency inputs)