The High Court single bench of Justice Devnarayan Mishra has set aside the anticipatory bail granted to former judge Giribala Singh by a Bhopal court in connection with an alleged dowry harassment case and the suspicious death of newly married woman Tvisha Sharma. The order was made public late Thursday night, shortly after 1 a.m.
The High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted by a lower court in Bhopal on May 15, 2026. Following an extensive hearing lasting nearly two hours and forty-five minutes on Wednesday, the court reserved its order. The court later indicated that a detailed order would be issued separately.
The case concerns the death of Bhopal resident Tvisha Sharma, who married advocate Samarth Singh, son of former judge Giribala Singh, on December 9, 2025. On May 12, 2026, Tvisha Sharma was found hanging at her residence. A case of alleged dowry harassment and death under suspicious circumstances was subsequently registered at Katara Hills police station.
According to allegations made by the deceased’s family, she had been subjected to mental and emotional harassment after the marriage. The family alleged that her husband and in-laws continuously pressured her and expressed suspicion regarding her character and pregnancy.
During the hearing, WhatsApp chats and other digital evidence were presented before the court on behalf of the deceased’s father. According to submissions made before the court, the chats allegedly contained references to harassment, pressure to undergo an abortion, and mental abuse. The prosecution also alleged that after obtaining anticipatory bail, Giribala Singh held a press conference in an attempt to damage the image of the deceased. The court was told that such conduct could be considered capable of influencing the investigation.
The postmortem report was also cited during proceedings. According to the medical report, six additional injury marks apart from hanging were found on the body. An expert report from AIIMS stated that the injuries were not sustained while bringing the body down or transporting it to hospital.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and the state government both submitted before the court that the investigation remained at an early stage and that custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary. The court held that the lower court had not adequately considered the available evidence and witness statements. In its order, the High Court said that WhatsApp chats, witness statements, and other documents contained clear allegations against Giribala Singh. The court also observed that the accused had not extended the expected level of cooperation in the investigation after being granted bail.
Referring to several previous Supreme Court rulings, Justice Devnarayan Mishra stated that a bail order may be cancelled if material facts have been overlooked.
