Bhopal: Former judicial officer Giribala Singh on Monday denied allegations of cruelty and abetment to suicide in the death of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma, telling the Madhya Pradesh High Court that her displeasure over Sharma’s decision to terminate her pregnancy did not amount to harassment.
The submission was made by Singh’s counsel before Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari during the hearing of her bail plea.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court reserved its order. Defending Singh, her senior counsel argued that she was unhappy with Sharma’s decision to undergo an abortion because both her son, lawyer Samarth Singh, and she wanted the child.
However, he submitted that Singh had neither forced Sharma to terminate the pregnancy nor subjected her to cruelty.
“The mother-in-law was very upset because the daughter-in-law was not listening to her and had gone through with the act,” the counsel said, arguing that her reaction was one of anger and that she had subsequently apologised for her remarks.
Referring to alleged chats in which Singh purportedly called Sharma a “murderer” over the abortion, the counsel argued that the words were spoken in the heat of the moment and did not establish that she had instigated Sharma to take her own life.
He further contended that the chats cited in the case pointed towards the alleged conduct of Samarth Singh rather than his mother. The defence also argued that Sharma was not confined to her matrimonial home and had intended to move to Delhi, where she had applied for a job.
Singh’s counsel concluded the arguments by submitting that bail should be considered in view of the nature of the alleged offences and the applicable legal provisions.
While opposing the bail plea, senior advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, representing the prosecution side, argued that Singh could influence witnesses and evidence while the investigation was pending.
The case relates to the death of Sharma, a Noida resident who married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh, son of ex-judge Giribala Singh, after the two met through a dating application.
On May 12, Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal, barely five months after the marriage. Her family accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to domestic violence and harassment over dowry demands.
An FIR was registered at Katara Hills police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Giribala Singh, a former president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Madhya Pradesh, was initially granted anticipatory bail by a sessions court.
The High Court subsequently cancelled the relief after the state government and Sharma’s family challenged the order. The High Court’s decision on the latest bail plea is awaited.
(IANS)
