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Bhopal court extends CBI custody for Samarth Singh and his mother-in-law in the Twisha Sharma case, marking a critical phase in the ongoing investigation into her death.
A court in Bhopal on Friday, May 29, 2026, ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to retain CBI custody of Twisha Sharma’s husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, for five days. This judicial decision, which keeps the two accused in official detention until June 2, follows their production before Justice Shobhana Bhalawe’s court, where the agency sought extended powers to conduct detailed interrogations. The move marks a significant escalation in the probe into the 33-year-old’s death, which the family attributes to severe mental harassment and dowry demands by her in-laws.
The immediate trigger for this custody extension was the CBI’s need to verify specific claims made by the accused regarding the events leading to Twisha’s demise. Earlier in the day, both individuals underwent medical examinations before being presented to the judge. The agency plans to rigorously question them about their activities and statements, aiming to corroborate or refute their narratives. This development comes shortly after the arrest of Giribala Singh on Thursday, May 28, and the prior detention of Samarth Singh, who had been on the run for over a week before his capture by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Bhopal Police on May 22.
The legal maneuvering surrounding the Samarth Singh case has been intense, particularly concerning the detention of Giribala Singh. She was arrested by the central agency following a six-hour investigation and questioning session at her Bhopal residence. This arrest occurred just one day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed her anticipatory bail, a decision that removed her primary legal shield against detention.
Advocate Anurag Shrivastava, representing the victim’s family, confirmed the procedural steps taken by the CBI. He noted that the agency explicitly requested the remand for both accused individuals to facilitate a thorough investigation. "They [the CBI] said that ‘we have only arrested Giribala Singh yesterday and we need both [the accused] for a detailed investigation and interrogation. So, they asked for their remand till the 2nd [of June]," Shrivastava told reporters. He added that the lawyers for the accused did not object to the custody request, indicating a strategic silence rather than legal opposition.
The High Court’s decision to cancel Giribala Singh’s anticipatory bail was rooted in several critical observations. Justice Devnarayan Mishra, sitting as a single bench, noted that the local court had failed to consider vital facts when granting bail on May 15. These included the presence of antemortem injuries on the victim’s body, including a head injury, which suggested violence prior to death. Furthermore, the bench highlighted that the allegations in the case were not directed solely at Samarth Singh, implicating the mother-in-law as well.
Justice Mishra also cited Giribala Singh’s lack of cooperation with the investigation. Despite multiple notices issued to her for recording statements and assisting the agency, she had not complied. The court found this non-cooperation sufficient grounds to deny pre-arrest protection, allowing the central agency to take her into custody for questioning.
While the legal battles over custody proceed, the medical evidence remains a pivotal element of the case. Twisha Sharma was found dead at her marital home on the night of May 12. Her family immediately alleged that she had suffered from mental harassment and dowry demands by her in-laws. In response, Giribala Singh denied these charges, instead accusing her daughter-in-law of being addicted to contraband substances and suffering from mental illness. This counter-narrative has been a point of contention, with the CBI now tasked with verifying the authenticity of these claims through interrogation.
The CBI’s current plan involves questioning the two accused in detail to verify their claims about the events leading to Twisha’s death. This includes cross-referencing their statements with medical reports and witness testimonies. The agency has already secured the detention of Samarth Singh, whose custody was transferred to the CBI after it took over the case from the local police. His arrest on May 22 followed a week-long manhunt, underscoring the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating the case.
The investigation is also relying heavily on forensic evidence. A High Court-ordered second autopsy was performed on Twisha’s body by an expert panel from AIIMS New Delhi. However, the report of this autopsy is still awaited, leaving the precise medical cause of death in legal limbo. The victim’s body was cremated in Bhopal on May 24, making the forensic report even more critical as it may be the only remaining physical evidence to settle the dispute over whether the injuries were consistent with the alleged dowry harassment or the defense's claim of mental health issues.
Advocate Shrivastava expressed confidence that the investigation was now moving in the right direction. He believed that the extended custody would allow the CBI to uncover the real facts of the case, potentially exposing the truth behind the allegations of harassment and the circumstances of the death. The lack of objection from the accused’s lawyers during the remand hearing has been interpreted by the family’s legal team as a sign that the defense may be weak or that the accused are awaiting the outcome of the medical reports.
As the CBI continues its interrogation of Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh, the case remains under intense public and legal scrutiny. The juxtaposition of a retired judge’s daughter-in-law and a husband who fled justice has drawn significant attention to the issue of dowry-related violence in India. The upcoming autopsy report will likely serve as the next major turning point, either substantiating the family’s claims of foul play or providing grounds for the defense to argue a different narrative. For now, the judicial system has opted for extended custody, prioritizing thorough investigation over quick bail releases, signaling a firm stance on ensuring justice for Twisha Sharma.
The extension of CBI custody to both the husband and mother-in-law underscores a rigorous judicial approach to dowry harassment cases involving prominent figures. The quashing of anticipatory bail due to non-cooperation sets a precedent for stricter scrutiny of witnesses in high-profile deaths. As the AIIMS autopsy report is awaited, the legal proceedings will likely intensify, potentially leading to more charges if the evidence supports the family's allegations. This case highlights the increasing demand for transparency and swift justice in dowry-related fatalities, influencing how similar cases are handled by law enforcement agencies across the region.
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