The Madhya Pradesh High Court has cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to retired judge and current Chairperson of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bhopal, Giribala Singh, in connection with the dowry death case of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Devnarayan Mishra on Wednesday set aside the bail order passed by the 10th Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal, on May 15, 2026, holding that the earlier decision granting pre-arrest protection required judicial interference in view of the nature of allegations and material placed on record.
Police had registered FIR No. RC0522026S0004 under Section 80(2), Section 85 and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, in connection with Sharma’s death on May 12, 2026, at her matrimonial home in Bhopal.
The High Court noted that statements of the deceased’s family members contained specific allegations not only against her husband, Samarth Singh, but also against the mother-in-law, Giribala Singh. The Court also took into account alleged WhatsApp messages sent by the deceased prior to her death, which were relied upon to indicate allegations of harassment.
Relying on the post-mortem report, the Court observed that while the cause of death was recorded as antemortem hanging by ligature, multiple ante-mortem injuries were also found on the body, including injuries on the left arm, head and other parts. The Court further noted that forensic clarification indicated these injuries were not attributable to post-death handling or shifting of the body, strengthening the prosecution’s case at the prima facie stage.
The High Court observed that the sessions court had granted anticipatory bail in a hurried manner without adequate consideration of the factual matrix and evidentiary material. It therefore quashed the bail order and restored the possibility of custodial interrogation at the investigation stage.
The deceased, a resident of Noida, had married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh around five months prior to her death after the two reportedly met through a dating application. She was found dead at her residence on May 12, prompting registration of a case at Katara Hills police station.
The prosecution alleged sustained domestic violence and dowry-related harassment, leading to criminal proceedings against the husband and members of his family. The State of Madhya Pradesh and the deceased’s father challenged the grant of anticipatory bail, arguing that the lower court had failed to properly assess the seriousness of the allegations and the evidentiary record.
During the hearing, the State and the complainant side also raised concerns regarding public statements and media interactions allegedly made by the accused, contending that such conduct risked influencing witnesses and shaping the narrative of the investigation.
The defence opposed cancellation of bail, submitting that there were no specific allegations justifying custodial interrogation and also pointing to the age and background of the accused. It was further argued that media statements were made in response to public scrutiny and not intended to prejudice the investigation.
After hearing the parties, the High Court concluded that the grounds for anticipatory bail were not sustainable and allowed the revision petition, thereby cancelling the pre-arrest protection granted to Giribala Singh.
The post Twisha Sharma dowry death case: Madhya Pradesh High Court cancels anticipatory bail of Giribala Singh appeared first on India Legal.