Twisha death case: Bhopal court asks defence to file written plea on Giribala's home burglary
Synopsis
A Bhopal court refused to hear an oral plea allowing retired judge Giribala Singh to visit her burgled home during the CBI probe into Twisha Sharma's death — and extended her remand to 14 July. Meanwhile, the CBI is pushing for voice specimens and a court order to unlock a password-protected laptop seized from her son, Samarth Singh, setting up two pivotal hearings on 3 July.
Key Takeaways
A Bhopal court on 30 June rejected an oral defence plea to let retired judge Giribala Singh visit her residence following a burglary.
The court directed the defence to file a formal written application for the relief.
Judicial remand of Giribala Singh and son Samarth Singh extended until 14 July .
The CBI has filed applications seeking voice specimens from both accused and a court order for the password to a seized, encrypted laptop.
The laptop has been sent to the CFSL, Delhi ; data retrieval is blocked due to password protection.
The burglary at Giribala Singh's home, reported on the night of 27–28 June , is being probed separately by local police.
A Bhopal court on Tuesday, 30 June declined to entertain an oral submission by the defence seeking permission for retired judge Giribala Singh to visit her residence in connection with a recent burglary, ruling that such a request could only be considered through a formal written application. The development came during a hearing in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of actress-model Twisha Sharma.
What Happened in Court
Giribala Singh and her son, advocate Samarth Singh, appeared before the court via video conferencing after the expiry of their previous judicial remand. The defence informed the court that a burglary had recently taken place at Giribala Singh's residence and requested that she be permitted to visit the jurisdictional police station area for identification of articles allegedly targeted in the incident.
The CBI opposed the plea, contending that the burglary and the investigation into Twisha Sharma's death were entirely separate matters and could not be adjudicated in the present proceedings. The court agreed, observing that no order could be passed on an oral request, and directed the defence to file a written application if it wished to pursue the relief.
Remand Extended to July 14
The CBI subsequently sought a further extension of judicial custody for both accused, stating that the investigation was ongoing. The defence opposed the extension, arguing that the agency had placed no fresh grounds before the court to justify continued remand. After considering both sides, the court extended the judicial remand of Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh until 14 July.
CBI Files Two Fresh Applications
According to Ankur Pandey, counsel for Twisha Sharma's family, the CBI also filed two separate applications before the court. The first seeks voice specimens from both accused for comparison with audio recordings collected during the investigation. The second concerns a laptop seized from Samarth Singh — the device has been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi, but data retrieval has been hampered because it is password-protected. The CBI has sought a court direction for the accused to provide the password.
The court has fixed 3 July as the next date for hearing on both applications.
The Burglary: A Separate Investigation
The burglary at Giribala Singh's residence was reported during the intervening night of 27 and 28 June and is being investigated separately by the local police. This comes amid an already high-stakes CBI probe, with the agency pressing for forensic access to digital evidence while the defence continues to contest the grounds for continued custody.
The case is next listed on 3 July for the forensic applications and on 14 July for the remand review, marking two critical dates that could shape the direction of the investigation.
Point of View
But it signals a tight grip on process in a case that has already drawn intense scrutiny. More consequential is the CBI's push for voice specimens and access to a password-protected laptop — forensic moves that suggest the agency believes key evidence remains locked away. The defence's challenge to remand extension on 'no fresh grounds' is a standard legal tactic, but with two forensic applications now pending, the 3 July hearing could prove more decisive than the remand date. The parallel burglary at Giribala Singh's home adds an unusual dimension that courts and investigators will need to keep firmly separated to avoid procedural complications.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Twisha Sharma death case?
The Twisha Sharma death case involves the CBI investigation into the death of actress-model Twisha Sharma. Retired judge Giribala Singh and her son, advocate Samarth Singh, are currently in judicial custody as accused in the matter.
Why did the Bhopal court reject the defence's request about the burglary?
The court declined to act on an oral submission seeking to allow Giribala Singh to visit her residence following a burglary, ruling that only a formal written application could be considered for such relief. The CBI also opposed the plea, arguing it was unrelated to the Twisha Sharma investigation.
What did the CBI request in its fresh applications?
The CBI filed two applications: one seeking voice specimens from both accused for comparison with audio recordings collected during the investigation, and another seeking a court direction for the accused to provide the password to a seized laptop that the CFSL in Delhi could not fully access.
When is the next hearing in the Twisha Sharma case?
The court has fixed 3 July for hearing the CBI's applications on voice specimens and the laptop password. The next remand review is scheduled for 14 July, to which the judicial custody of both accused has been extended.
Is the burglary at Giribala Singh's home connected to the Twisha Sharma case?
According to the CBI, the burglary is a separate matter unrelated to the Twisha Sharma investigation. The incident, reported on the intervening night of 27 and 28 June, is being investigated independently by the local police.
