Retired Judge Arrested in Twisha Sharma Death Investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Giribala Singh, a retired judge and the mother-in-law of Twisha Sharma, in relation to the dowry harassment and death of Sharma. This arrest occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026, following the Madhya Pradesh High Court's dismissal of anticipatory bail previously granted to Singh on May 15. Beena Yadav, the agency's Chief Information Officer, confirmed the arrest to The Hindu, noting that Singh was interrogated for six hours at her residence in Bhopal prior to being taken into custody.

On the day of the arrest, CBI officials conducted a thorough investigation at Singh's home, which included recreating the crime scene. Following the legal protocol, Singh is to be presented before a local court on Friday, May 29, where the CBI will seek custody for further interrogation.

Twisha Sharma, aged 33, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, leading her family to allege that her death was a result of foul play. Her husband, Samarth Singh, a legal practitioner, is already in CBI custody.

During court proceedings, the High Court underscored that some injuries identified on Twisha's body were not consistent with being caused post-mortem. In its ruling, the court referred to the post-mortem report which indicated that Twisha's death resulted from hanging by ligature. Notably, it also documented multiple other injuries, some of which were determined to have occurred before her death.

The High Court’s assessment highlighted that the trial court had not duly considered accusations against Giribala Singh when it granted the initial bail. In a statement made during the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the bail decision was problematic, suggesting that the trial court failed to fully evaluate the seriousness of the case. He noted, "In such a serious matter, when the girl lost her life, the respondent has no remorse and has not tried to cooperate with the investigating agency."

Siddharth Luthra, legal counsel for Twisha's father, claimed that Singh utilised her judicial knowledge to manipulate evidence related to the case. "The respondent is a retired judicial officer and used skills learned during her tenure to tamper with the crime scene," Luthra asserted.

Concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding Twisha's death and the alleged actions of the accused have been echoed by the CBI's Deputy Solicitor General Suyash Mohan Guru, who referred to the case as shrouded in mystery and suggested a possible cover-up facilitated by the influential individuals involved. Additionally, allegations arose regarding the presence of Singh's sister, a doctor, during the autopsy conducted at AIIMS Bhopal, raising further questions about the integrity of the investigation.

As this high-profile case continues to unfold, the involvement of the CBI marks a significant development, reflecting the ongoing scrutiny of legal and ethical standards in cases of domestic violence and harassment linked to dowry practices in India.