In a stark reversal of fortunes, retired district judge Giribala Singh, who once presided over courtrooms and sentenced offenders, has been admitted to Bhopal Central Jail as an undertrial in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma. She has been assigned prisoner number 71 and is currently being housed in the women’s medical ward, while her son and co-accused, Samarth Singh, has been lodged in a separate section for male inmates with prisoner number 1782.
The pair were remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a special CBI court on Tuesday following the conclusion of their five-day police interrogation.
The case, which centres on the death of 33-year-old former model and actor Twisha Sharma, has captivated public attention due to the high-profile background of the accused. Sharma, originally from Noida, was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills on May 12, just five months after her December 2025 marriage to Samarth Singh.
Her family has consistently alleged that the marriage was marred by severe dowry harassment and mental torture. Following allegations of investigative lapses by local police, the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe, which has since broadened into a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances of Sharma’s death.
#WATCH | Twisha Sharma death case | As part of their ongoing investigation, CBI brings Twisha’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, to her residence in Bhopal, where Twisha died by suicide. pic.twitter.com/LGdsggo47e
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 1, 2026
Forensic Reconstruction to Solve the Case
As the investigation intensifies, the CBI has employed advanced forensic techniques to challenge the narrative of a simple suicide. On Monday, investigators conducted a meticulous recreation of the crime scene at the Bhopal residence.
Using an 80-kg dummy to match the victim’s physical profile, the team aimed to address critical discrepancies, including differences between Sharma’s recorded height and post-mortem findings, and to examine the physical state of the scene. CBI officials have also highlighted evidence of multiple ante-mortem injuries on Sharma’s body, which they argue contradict claims made by the in-laws during earlier interrogations.
Legal proceedings leading up to the current judicial custody were marked by heated courtroom exchanges. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh, noting that the trial court failed to adequately consider evidence such as recovered WhatsApp chats, which allegedly revealed attempts to malign the victim’s character and force an abortion.
During her recent appearance, Giribala Singh, intimately familiar with the judicial process from her 36-year career, reportedly addressed the bench directly. She expressed that she felt like a “hunted animal” amid the intense media scrutiny surrounding the case.
Awaiting Trial Behind Bars
The transition from judge to inmate has drawn significant attention, particularly regarding security protocols for a former member of the judiciary. Bhopal Central Jail administration has stated that the accused are being kept separately from the general population to ensure their safety.
While they are now subject to standard prison routines, including being served the basic jail menu of dal, roti, and rice, officials have sought to downplay concerns about the potential for friction within the facility.
As the judicial custody period continues until June 16, the CBI is expected to finalise its initial findings. With charges brought under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act, the case stands as a significant test of the legal system’s ability to address allegations of dowry death and institutional cruelty. This especially becomes challenging as the accused possesses deep knowledge of the very mechanisms intended to deliver justice.
