Bhopal: A special CBI court in Bhopal on Saturday rejected the bail application of retired district judge Giribala Singh, arrested in connection with the alleged dowry death of her daughter‑in‑law, Twisha Sharma.
Special CBI Judge Ram Pratap Mishra dismissed the plea after hearing arguments from both the defence and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), observing that the allegations against the accused were of a serious nature.
The defence had sought bail on humanitarian grounds, citing Singh’s advanced age, medical condition and family circumstances, including the need to care for her elderly mother.
The CBI opposed the plea, arguing that bail could not be granted solely on the ground that the accused was a woman. It told the court that the victim in the case was also a woman and urged consideration of the gravity of the allegations.
The court had reserved its verdict after hearing both sides on Friday and pronounced the order on Saturday evening.
Before the matter reached its conclusion, the bail proceedings witnessed an unusual development on Friday when Special CBI Judge Neelam Shukla recused herself, stating that she had undergone judicial training under Giribala Singh when the latter was serving as an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Gwalior.
The case was then assigned to Special CBI Judge Ram Pratap Mishra, who heard the matter and reserved the order. Earlier, two other judges had also recused themselves from hearing the bail application because of their past association with Singh and her family.
Twisha Sharma died under suspicious circumstances soon after her marriage. Her family alleged that she was subjected to continuous dowry harassment by her husband and in‑laws.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court subsequently transferred the investigation to the CBI after expressing dissatisfaction with the initial police probe. Giribala Singh and her advocate son, Samarth Singh, were later arrested by the central agency and remain in judicial custody.
The case is being investigated by the CBI.
(IANS)
