The Madhya Pradesh government on Friday, 22 May moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking cancellation of the interim bail granted to Giribala Singh, mother-in-law of alleged dowry death victim Twisha Sharma. The move marks a significant escalation in the high-profile case that has drawn widespread public attention and mounting demands for a fair, impartial probe.

State's Submissions Before the High Court

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Madhya Pradesh Advocate General Prashant Singh represented the state before the court. The Advocate General argued that despite a conditional interim bail granted earlier by a Bhopal district court, the accused had allegedly failed to cooperate with the prosecution.

'We requested the court to note that while the Bhopal District Court had granted conditional interim bail to Giribala Singh, the prosecution is not receiving the requisite cooperation. Furthermore, we also submitted that there is a possibility that evidence could be compromised in some manner. Therefore, her anticipatory bail should be cancelled,' Prashant Singh said.

The High Court, after hearing the state's submissions, directed that notice be served by hand to all parties concerned and listed the matter for the next hearing on Monday, 25 May.

Family Petition Clubbed With State's Application

A separate petition filed by Twisha Sharma's family, also challenging Giribala Singh's interim bail, was taken up simultaneously. Advocate Ankur Pandey, who represents Twisha's family, confirmed that both petitions were clubbed together by the court as they raised substantially similar legal issues.

Second Post-Mortem Ordered at AIIMS Delhi

In a significant parallel development, the High Court also passed directions for a second post-mortem examination of Twisha Sharma's body, currently preserved at AIIMS Bhopal. The court directed the Director of AIIMS Delhi to constitute a team of doctors to conduct the fresh autopsy.

Details of the medical team are to be communicated immediately to the state government, which has been instructed to provide all logistical support required for the examination. The order reflects judicial concern over alleged inconsistencies flagged in the initial post-mortem report.

Background: How the Case Unfolded

Twisha Sharma was found dead on 12 May at her in-laws' residence in Bag Mugalia Extension, under the Katara Hills police station area in Bhopal. Her family has alleged serious procedural lapses in the early stages of the investigation, including a delay in registering the FIR and discrepancies in the first post-mortem findings.

This comes amid growing scrutiny of the case, with the Madhya Pradesh government having already recommended a CBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The case has drawn particular attention given that Giribala Singh is a retired judge.

What Happens Next

The High Court will hear both petitions on Monday, 25 May. The outcome of the bail cancellation application and the findings of the second post-mortem are expected to be pivotal in determining the direction of the investigation. A CBI takeover, if formalised, would further reshape the legal proceedings.