Twisha Sharma case: CCTV installer says 2-day time lag was software glitch, not tampering
Synopsis
The key evidentiary puzzle in the Twisha Sharma death case — a CCTV timestamp running over two days behind — has a mundane explanation, according to the installer: an unserviced software system, not deliberate tampering. With nearly one terabyte of footage now in police hands, whether forensic analysis backs that claim will be pivotal to where the investigation goes next.
Key Takeaways
CCTV installer Vinod Vani stated on 22 May that the surveillance system at Giribala Singh's residence was running 2 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes behind due to a software issue.
Vani had installed an eight-camera setup at the residence in 2023 ; he was alerted about the incident on 12 May .
Staff member Rohit Vishwakarma corroborated the account, saying the lag was caused by lack of system servicing.
Police seized the CCTV footage and equipment; nearly one terabyte of recorded data is reportedly in their custody.
A new CCTV system was installed at the residence two days after the seizure, at police request.
In a significant development in the Twisha Sharma death investigation, Bhopal-based CCTV installer Vinod Vani on Friday, 22 May stated that the surveillance system installed at the residence of retired judge Giribala Singh was running 2 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes behind actual time — a discrepancy he attributed to a software issue, not deliberate tampering. The claim directly addresses a key concern that had surfaced during the probe into the circumstances surrounding Sharma's death on 12 May.
What Vinod Vani Said
Vani told reporters that he had originally installed an eight-camera CCTV setup at the judge's residence in 2023. He said he received a call about an incident on 12 May but was initially unaware of its gravity. 'I thought it was a case of robbery or something similar,' he said. He added that he received calls from Giribala Singh on 13 May but could not visit immediately, directing his staff member Rohit to inspect the system instead.
'The CCTV system was running 2 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes behind. This was not tampering; it was a software issue. If the software had been updated on time, this problem would not have occurred. The recording is complete, and there is nearly one terabyte of data stored in it,' Vani said.
Staff Account Corroborates the Claim
Staff member Rohit Vishwakarma confirmed that he was sent to the residence on Vani's instructions after Sharma's death. He said police and administrative officials were already present when he arrived. 'They asked me to check the recordings, so I showed them footage from 6 PM to 9 PM. The timing mismatch occurred because servicing of the system had not been done,' Vishwakarma said.
Police Seize Footage and Equipment
According to Vani, police subsequently seized both the recorded footage and the CCTV equipment from the residence. He said his team was then asked to install a replacement system. 'We installed a new setup after two days so that any further activity could also be monitored if required,' he added. The nearly one-terabyte archive reportedly remains in police custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
What This Means for the Investigation
The time discrepancy in the CCTV footage had reportedly raised questions among investigators about whether evidence had been altered. Vani's explanation, if verified by forensic analysis, could resolve that specific concern — though it does not address the broader circumstances of Twisha Sharma's death. This comes amid heightened public scrutiny of the case, given that the residence in question belongs to a former judicial officer. Investigators have not yet issued an official response to Vani's claims.
Point of View
The optics of an unserviced system conveniently misaligned by more than two days will not be easily dismissed by a statement to the press. Investigators owe the public a forensic finding, not just an installer's account.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Twisha Sharma case?
Twisha Sharma died on 12 May at the Bhopal residence of retired judge Giribala Singh, triggering a police investigation into the circumstances of her death. The case drew public attention partly due to a reported time discrepancy in the CCTV footage recovered from the premises.
Why was the CCTV timestamp running behind?
According to installer Vinod Vani, the system was running 2 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes behind because the CCTV software had not been updated or serviced on time. He stated this was a technical issue, not deliberate tampering.
How much footage do police have?
Police seized the CCTV equipment and recordings from Giribala Singh's residence. Vinod Vani said the archive contains nearly one terabyte of data, which is reportedly now in police custody for investigation.
Who is Giribala Singh?
Giribala Singh is a retired judge at whose Bhopal residence Twisha Sharma died on 12 May. The presence of CCTV at her home and the timestamp discrepancy in the footage became focal points of the ongoing investigation.
What happens next in the investigation?
Investigators have not yet publicly responded to Vani's software-glitch explanation. The next key step is a forensic examination of the seized footage to determine whether the data is intact and whether the timestamp discrepancy is consistent with a software issue.
