The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, 29 May 2025, detained retired district judge Giribala Singh from her residence in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal, in connection with the alleged dowry death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma. The detention came a day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail that had been granted to Singh.

How the Detention Unfolded

A CBI team, backed by a substantial police contingent, arrived at Giribala Singh's Katara Hills residence early in the morning. Local police barricaded the surrounding locality and restricted public movement during the proceedings. Questioning of Singh was reportedly conducted at her residence itself.

The Bail Reversal That Triggered the Arrest

Singh had approached a Bhopal sessions court seeking pre-arrest bail just two days after Twisha Sharma was found dead on 12 May 2025 — barely five months after her marriage to Singh's son, Samarth Singh, on 9 December 2024. The 10th Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal, granted bail on 15 May, citing Singh's age and evidence of money transfers to the deceased.

However, vacation judge Devnarayan Mishra of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, in a 17-page order passed on Wednesday, quashed that relief. The court found that the trial court had failed to properly examine crucial material facts, including WhatsApp chats and statements by Twisha's family, which indicated that allegations of harassment were not confined to husband Samarth Singh alone. 'From the WhatsApp chats also, it cannot be said that the allegations are only against Samarth Singh,' the court observed.

Key Evidence and Allegations

Twisha's family alleged that both Giribala Singh and her son pressured Twisha to terminate her pregnancy — a fact the High Court noted was admitted on record. The post-mortem report stated the cause of death as antemortem hanging by ligature; however, the court flagged six to seven additional antemortem injuries on Twisha's body, including injuries on her left arm, finger, and head. A subsequent query report clarified these injuries were not sustained during removal of the body or transportation to hospital.

The High Court held that the allegations warranted deeper scrutiny under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Concern Over Potential Evidence Tampering

Counsel for Twisha's father argued before the High Court that Giribala Singh, as a retired judicial officer with training in cyber forensics and crime scene management, may have possessed the expertise to tamper with the crime scene — an allegation that reportedly weighed on the court's reasoning in cancelling bail.

State Government's Position

Madhya Pradesh Advocate General Prashant Singh said on Thursday that a detailed hearing was held the previous day. He noted that the High Court had taken into account two primary factors: the presence of seven antemortem injuries on Twisha's body, underscoring the gravity of the case, and the fact that Giribala Singh had not cooperated adequately with the investigating team despite multiple notices.

With Singh now in CBI custody, investigators are expected to formally record her statement and examine the digital and forensic evidence flagged by the High Court. The case continues to draw national attention given Singh's background as a retired member of the judiciary.