The government of Madhya Pradesh has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to retired judge Giribala Singh in connection with the death case of Twisha Sharma, alleging that she tampered with evidence, interfered with the investigation, and compromised the crime scene.
Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old pregnant woman originally from Noida, was found hanging from an exercise rod installed on the terrace of her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Since her death, her family has consistently accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment and mental abuse, alleging that sustained cruelty drove her to death.
In its plea before the High Court, the state government raised serious concerns regarding CCTV footage recovered from the family’s residence, describing it as one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in the investigation.
According to the government, police seized the CCTV recordings on May 13 as part of the probe. However, authorities alleged that Giribala Singh retained copies of the footage and later selectively circulated short clips on social media platforms.
The government argued that this selective release of CCTV visuals amounted to an attempt to influence public perception, interfere with the ongoing investigation, and weaken potential prosecution evidence.
The plea also referred to WhatsApp conversations and investigation records allegedly showing that Twisha Sharma faced continuous mental harassment inside her matrimonial home. According to the government, even a preliminary reading of the chats indicated severe emotional distress and pointed toward a sustained pattern of harassment allegedly involving both Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh.
The state government further argued that the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh by a Bhopal court on May 15 had been issued in a “mechanical manner” without sufficiently considering the seriousness of the allegations or carefully evaluating the material submitted by investigators.
So far, neither the police nor the court has officially released the complete WhatsApp conversations or the full CCTV recordings publicly, and many of the allegations currently remain part of competing claims made by both sides in court proceedings.
At present, only limited portions of CCTV footage have surfaced publicly. One video clip accessed by media outlets reportedly showed Twisha Sharma walking toward the rooftop area shortly before her death and later being brought downstairs by her husband along with two other individuals.
The case has since evolved into one of the most closely followed criminal investigations in Madhya Pradesh. The allegations now extend beyond dowry death accusations and include claims involving tampering of forensic evidence, interference with witnesses, selective leaks of digital material, and attempts to influence the direction of the investigation.
Following growing controversy surrounding the case, the Madhya Pradesh government transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling earlier stages of the probe reportedly issued a third notice to Giribala Singh for questioning. Police sources also indicated that investigators were preparing to seek cancellation of her anticipatory bail on grounds of alleged non-cooperation and violation of bail conditions.
Twisha Sharma’s family and their legal representatives had also been considering approaching the High Court seeking a second post-mortem examination, arguing that the first autopsy did not adequately address suspicious injuries allegedly found on her body.
Twisha, known as a model-turned-actor, was found dead at her matrimonial residence in Bhopal’s Katara Hills locality. Her family has accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to dowry-related harassment and psychological abuse.
In contrast, her in-laws have denied wrongdoing and claimed that Twisha struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Following the incident, police registered an FIR under Sections 80(2), 85, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh.
Meanwhile, Samarth Singh, who reportedly remained untraceable for nearly ten days after Twisha’s death, has now offered to surrender before authorities, according to submissions made by his lawyer before the High Court.
In another major development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently ordered a second post-mortem examination in the case, overturning an earlier lower court decision that had rejected the family’s request for a fresh autopsy at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (AIIMS Delhi).
The High Court’s decision came amid concerns regarding the preservation of Twisha Sharma’s body, which has remained stored at the mortuary of AIIMS Bhopal since May 13.
Investigators, legal authorities, and both families are now awaiting the outcome of the second autopsy, which could become crucial in determining whether the circumstances surrounding Twisha Sharma’s death point toward suicide or potential foul play.
