Twisha Sharma Death: Former Judge to Remain in Custody as MP High Court Sees Gaps in Investigation

The investigation into the death of Bhopal-based model and actor Twisha Sharma has reached a crucial stage, with the Madhya Pradesh High Court refusing to release her former judge mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, on bail.

The court’s decision reflects its concern that investigators have yet to complete the examination of evidence that could help reconstruct the events surrounding Twisha’s final hours.

In rejecting the plea on Wednesday, Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari emphasised that the case could not be assessed merely based on the arguments advanced by the defence.

The circumstances of the death, the material already gathered and several unanswered questions warranted a more comprehensive investigation, the court observed.

A major part of the remaining investigation concerns Twisha’s personal digital records. The contents of her iPhone have not yet been fully retrieved and analysed.

The court considers this exercise significant because the information stored on the device may help establish whom she communicated with, what transpired before her death and whether additional individuals need to be questioned.

The investigation has another important electronic trail to examine: the surveillance system at the residence where the accused lived.

Recordings from the premises have been referred to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi. Experts have been asked to determine whether the available footage represents an authentic and uninterrupted record of events.

The outcome of this examination could have a bearing on the direction of the probe. If the laboratory detects missing portions, inconsistencies or signs that the recordings were modified, investigators may have to explore further possibilities.

The High Court noted that the technical findings had not yet reached the investigating agency.

The court also drew attention to certain contacts allegedly made by Giribala after Twisha’s death. Information recorded in the case diary indicates that she had communicated with influential people following the incident.

The reasons for these communications and their relevance to the case remain matters for investigators to establish.

The defence sought to persuade the court that the material available did not demonstrate the necessary criminal intention on the part of the former judge.

The court was not convinced that this argument could be decided independently of the other evidence. It stressed that the wider circumstances must be considered before concluding the alleged involvement of the accused.

Among the material requiring scrutiny are messages exchanged between Twisha and her relatives shortly before the incident.

Investigators have also collected video recordings, examined the circumstances in which she was discovered and documented the conduct of the accused following her death.

The court said the different strands of evidence and the individual roles attributed to those facing allegations would need careful examination.

The medical findings from the post-mortem examination have also formed part of the material considered by the court.

However, with the digital examination and laboratory assessments still incomplete, the judge concluded that the grounds for granting bail were not sufficient at present. The application was accordingly dismissed.

The case dates back to May 12, when Twisha was found dead at her matrimonial residence in Bhopal. She had married lawyer Samarth Singh around five months earlier.

Her death prompted serious accusations from her parental family, who alleged that she had been subjected to harassment linked to dowry demands.

They further claimed that pressure had been exerted on her to end her pregnancy. These allegations led to wider scrutiny of the circumstances in which she died.

The investigation was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation after concerns were raised over the manner in which the initial police inquiry had been conducted.

The latest judicial development keeps the focus on the evidence that investigators are yet to examine.

While the High Court has refused to grant bail at this stage, it has not pronounced the accused guilty. The allegations will ultimately have to be tested through the evidence and the trial process.