Twisha Sharma death case: CBI court extends custody of Giribala, Samarth Singh till Aug 11
Synopsis
A retired district judge and her son remain in CBI custody till August 11 in the alleged dowry death of Twisha Sharma — a case that has already prompted the Madhya Pradesh High Court to order a fresh AIIMS post-mortem and raised uncomfortable questions about accountability within the judiciary.
Key Takeaways
A special CBI court in Bhopal extended judicial custody of Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh till 11 August on 28 July .
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws' home in Katara Hills, Bhopal on the night of 12 May .
Her family alleges murder over dowry demands; in-laws claim she died by suicide.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a fresh post-mortem by an AIIMS New Delhi team after questions arose over the initial examination.
The accused disputed CBI's claim of non-cooperation on voice samples; the court noted the issue was not relevant to remand proceedings.
CBI declined to disclose witness details, citing risk to the ongoing investigation.
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, 28 July extended the judicial custody of retired district judge Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh — the two accused in the alleged dowry death of Twisha Sharma — till 11 August. The CBI told the court that its investigation into the case remains ongoing, prompting the extension.
Proceedings Before the Court
The hearing was conducted before a duty magistrate, as the regular magistrate was on leave. Both accused appeared before the court via video conferencing. Advocate Shubhang Dixit, representing Twisha Sharma's family, said the court accepted the CBI's remand plea after the agency submitted that its probe was still in progress.
Dispute Over Voice Samples
During the proceedings, the accused contested the CBI's allegation that they had failed to cooperate in providing their voice samples. The defence further alleged that investigating officials behaved inappropriately during the voice sample collection process and raised formal objections before the court. The court orally observed that the voice sample issue had already been argued at the time of the bail applications and was therefore not relevant to the present remand proceedings — though this observation did not form part of the written order.
Defence Objects to Custody Extension
The defence opposed the remand extension, arguing that the CBI's application cited no fresh grounds for seeking further custody. It also sought details on the number of witnesses examined during the investigation. The CBI declined to share that information, submitting that disclosing witness details or recorded statements at this stage could adversely affect the ongoing probe. After hearing both sides, the court allowed the CBI's application.
Background: The Twisha Sharma Case
Twisha Sharma was found dead at her in-laws' residence in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal on the night of 12 May. Her in-laws claimed she died by suicide, while her parental family alleged she was murdered over dowry demands. The case drew judicial scrutiny after questions were raised over the initial post-mortem examination. The Madhya Pradesh High Court subsequently directed a fresh post-mortem to be conducted by a team from AIIMS New Delhi at its Bhopal centre. The CBI was later brought in to investigate the matter.
What Happens Next
With judicial custody now extended to 11 August, the CBI is expected to continue its investigation, including the resolution of the voice sample dispute. The case, which has put the spotlight on alleged dowry harassment involving a member of the judiciary, will next come up for hearing on that date.
Point of View
But the defence's allegation of misconduct during voice sample collection, if substantiated, could complicate the agency's case. More broadly, the Madhya Pradesh High Court's intervention to order a fresh AIIMS post-mortem signals a breakdown of trust in the initial investigation — a pattern that has emerged in several high-profile custodial and domestic violence cases in recent years. How the CBI navigates the voice sample dispute in the coming weeks will be a key indicator of the probe's trajectory.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh in the Twisha Sharma case?
Giribala Singh is a retired district judge and Samarth Singh is her son. They are the two accused in the alleged dowry death case of Twisha Sharma, who was found dead at their residence in Katara Hills, Bhopal on the night of 12 May.
Why was the judicial custody of the accused extended?
The CBI told the special court in Bhopal that its investigation into the case was still ongoing, which the court accepted as sufficient grounds to extend judicial custody till 11 August.
What is the dispute over voice samples in this case?
The CBI alleged that the accused did not cooperate in providing their voice samples. The defence contested this claim and further alleged that CBI officials behaved inappropriately during the collection process. The court noted the issue had already been argued during bail hearings and was not relevant to the remand proceedings.
Why did the Madhya Pradesh High Court order a fresh post-mortem?
Questions were raised over the initial post-mortem examination conducted after Twisha Sharma's death. The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed that a fresh post-mortem be carried out by an AIIMS New Delhi team at its Bhopal centre to ensure an independent assessment.
What happens next in the Twisha Sharma case?
The case is next scheduled for hearing on 11 August, when the accused's custody will again come up for review. The CBI is expected to continue its investigation, including addressing the voice sample dispute, before that date.
