Twisha Sharma Dowry Death Case: MP High Court To Hear Mother-In-Law Giribala Singh In Pleas Challenging Her Anticipatory Bail

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (May 25) sought response of Twisha Sharma's mother-in-law Giribala Singh in pleas challenging grant of anticipatory bail to her in an alleged dowry death case. 

A single-judge Bench of Justice Devnarayan Mishra heard Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appearing along with Advocate Anurag Shrivastav for the victim's parents, seeking urgent consideration of the pleas.

Luthra informed the Court that two connected matters were listed — one filed by the State and another by the victim's parents — both assailing the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh, who is also a retired judge.

Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for Giribala Singh, submitted that the State's petition itself contained “wrong averments” and requested that the matter be listed on a short date.

Luthra, however, asserted that the victim's parents had an independent right to support the State's plea for cancellation of bail.

Appearing for the State, Advocate General Prashant Singh informed the Court that notice had already been served upon Giribala Singh in the State's petition seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail.

The Bench noted that the parents had also filed “additional contentions” beyond those raised by the State and observed that Singh would have to be given an opportunity to respond to those averments.

“The parents have filed additional contentions; we would have to give respondents a chance to respond to these contentions,” the Court observed, while suggesting that the parents could alternatively restrict themselves to supporting the State's plea.

The Court thereafter directed issuance of notice to Giribala Singh to respond to the parents' plea.

As Singh's counsel sought one week's time for filing the response, Luthra pressed for urgency submitting. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also insisted for a short date, pointing that Singh had managed to obtain bail within a day. 

"There was institutional bias...when they can apply for bail and be granted the same within a day. We request for early and expeditious hearing as was given by Sessions Court," Mehta said.

Eventually, the case was posted for May 27 (Wednesday).

The case pertains to the suicide of a 33-year-old model-actress Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging in her husband's residence on the night of May 12, within six months of their marriage. Per Twisha's parents, her husband and mother-in-law subject her to cruelty and dowry harassment. 

The husband, who was a practising lawyer, had been absconding since the accident and had applied for anticipatory bail from the Bhopal Court, but was denied on May 18. He also approached the High Court on Friday, but withdrew the same with permission to surrender before the Bhopal Court. He surrendered on Saturday and was remanded to 7-day police custody by the Bhopal Court. Subsequently, the Bar Council of India suspended Singh's license, noting that the allegations are grave and affect the dignity and public image of the legal profession.

The mother-in-law, who is a retired District Judge and currently serving as Chairperson of the District Consumer Court, was granted anticipatory bail on May 15, noting that the FIR as well as WhatsApp chats are directly against her son. 

In the last hearing, Giribala Singh's anticipatory bail was challenged by the State and the parents of the deceased girl before the High Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on Friday, argued that the anticipatory bail was granted hastily without looking at the gravity of the alleged offences. However, due to the non-appearance of Giribala's lawyer, the court deemed it appropriate to issue notice.

The bench allowed the second petition filed by the parents seeking a second post-mortem and preservation of the body. After discussions, the court directed that an expert team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi would fly to Bhopal to conduct the same.

Notably, on May 23, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of this matter, registering a case titled In Re: Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the Unnatural Death of a Young Woman at a Matrimonial Home.

In today's hearing, the Apex Court requested the media to avoid publishing the statements of potential witnesses or accused, as it can prejudge issues which are yet to be investigated. The Court also requested the public to refrain from speculations and trust the investigation by the premier agency of the country. The court disposed of the matter after assurance from Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta that the CBI will take over the probe. 

Case Title: State v Giribala Singh, MCRC/24475/2026, Navnidhi Sharma v State MCRC/24405/2026