The Madhya Pradesh High Court has revoked the anticipatory bail previously granted to Giribala Singh, the mother-in-law of actor-model Twisha Sharma, in connection with Sharma's death case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) strongly opposed Singh's bail application, asserting that her custodial interrogation was crucial for the ongoing investigation.
CBI Alleges Dowry Harassment and Evidence Tampering
During court proceedings, the CBI presented a series of grave allegations against Giribala Singh. The agency claimed that Singh made concerted efforts to defame Twisha Sharma's character and was involved in dowry harassment. Furthermore, the CBI accused her of forcing Twisha to undergo a pregnancy termination and attempting to tamper with critical evidence related to the case. The agency also highlighted the failure of Twisha's in-laws to provide a credible explanation for injuries found on her body.
Vacation judge Devnarayan Mishra of the Madhya Pradesh High Court set aside the May 15 order issued by the 10th Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal, effectively cancelling Singh's anticipatory bail. This decision came after pleas seeking the cancellation of her bail were allowed.
Husband Sent to CBI Custody; New Details Emerge
Earlier on the same day, a Bhopal court remanded Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, into CBI custody. The central agency took over the investigation recently, re-registering the First Information Report (FIR) that originally named both Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused. The prosecution emphasized that the case is still in its nascent stages, necessitating custodial interrogation due to the serious allegations, the involvement of influential individuals, and alleged non-cooperation during the initial probe.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, raised concerns about the manner in which the anticipatory bail was initially secured, suggesting that the trial court might not have fully considered all pertinent aspects.
Unexplained Injuries and Allegations of Autopsy Interference
The CBI informed the court about injuries on Twisha's wrist and elbow, which her in-laws reportedly could not explain. A medical report indicated these injuries were unlikely to have occurred during the removal of the body from a ligature. Questions were also raised regarding the presence of Giribala Singh's sister, Rajbala Singh Bhadoriya, and Yashveer JK, both senior doctors in Bhopal, during Twisha's first post-mortem examination conducted at AIIMS Bhopal on May 13.
WhatsApp Chats Reveal Marital Strife and Dowry Demands
Investigators recovered WhatsApp chats that shed light on the couple's troubled relationship. Twisha and Samarth married on December 19, 2025, with Twisha's father providing dowry and gifts. The CBI stated that Twisha had confided in her family about her husband and his relatives accusing her of drug addiction, causing her distress. Following the revelation of her pregnancy on April 17, a family dispute allegedly prompted her to leave her matrimonial home and return to Noida.
The agency claimed that Giribala Singh and Samarth doubted Twisha's character upon learning of her pregnancy, allegedly forcing her into an abortion based on the accusation that the child belonged to another person. Witness statements cited by the Advocate General indicated repeated demands for dowry, with the initial dowry given during the marriage deemed insufficient. There were also allegations that Giribala Singh and her son sought to transfer Twisha's shares into their names.
Further, the court heard that on April 19, during a visit to Rajasthan, Giribala Singh and Samarth again questioned Twisha's character. Twisha reportedly informed her parents about a scuffle with her husband and mother-in-law, who were demanding dowry. On May 5, Twisha asked her mother to take her away from her marital home. Her last known contact was a WhatsApp call to her mother on May 12, where she alleged her husband was shouting at her before the call disconnected. Later that night, Twisha was found hanging at her Bhopal residence and declared dead.
Allegations of Evidence Tampering and Narrative Control
Twisha's counsels alleged that her in-laws neither allowed her to live happily nor to express her distress, leaving her badly stuck.
The CBI and Twisha's legal representatives also accused Giribala Singh of attempting to tamper with the crime scene and manipulate the narrative. They stated that while police seized CCTV footage from Singh's house on May 13, she allegedly retained incident footage and subsequently leaked a selective clip on social media to influence public perception. Furthermore, after securing anticipatory bail, Giribala Singh reportedly held a press conference on May 18, where she allegedly tried to malign the deceased's image with various accusations.