Bhopal, May 28
Former judge Giribala Singh was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma, after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled her anticipatory bail.
The case took a fresh turn after a CBI team reached Singh’s residence in Bhopal’s Bag Mughaliya extension area a day after the High Court quashed the relief granted to her by a sessions court earlier this month.
Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh are facing allegations related to dowry harassment linked to Twisha Sharma’s death. Samarth Singh, who is a lawyer by profession, is already in CBI custody after the agency formally took over the investigation from the Madhya Pradesh Police earlier this week.
According to sources, CBI officials questioned Giribala Singh following the High Court order before taking further action in the case.
Twisha Sharma was allegedly found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. Her family has accused the in-laws of subjecting her to mental harassment. During the hearing before the High Court, counsel appearing for Sharma’s family also alleged that attempts were made to influence evidence in the case.
The petitioners claimed that CCTV footage seized by police from Giribala Singh’s residence on May 13 was selectively circulated on social media to influence the investigation.
In its order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh deserved to be quashed, having regard to the factual aspects of the case and the allegations leveled against her.
Justice Devnarayan Mishra, in the 17-page order passed on Wednesday, allowed petitions seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted by the additional sessions judge on May 15.
The CBI has re-registered the FIR earlier filed by the state police against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as the probe into the case continues.
