‘Ex-judge trying to tamper with proof’: MP govt’s plea in HC for cancellation of her bail

Bhopal/Jabalpur: Hearing the state govt’s revision petition for quashing of anticipatory bail granted to retired district judge Giribala Singh by a Bhopal court on May 15 in connection with alleged dowry death of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma at their Katara Hills house in Bhopal, the vacation bench of MP high court on Friday issued notice to the retired judge.

In its application filed in the court, the state govt contended that the anticipatory bail granted to her should be cancelled for the reason that she has been trying to tamper with the evidence and obstruct investigation.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the state govt in the case through video conferencing, contended that anticipatory bail was granted to Giribala Singh, an accused in the case along with her son and husband of Twisha Sharma, Samarth Singh, in a “very hurried manner”.

While an autopsy was conducted on Twisha’s body on May 13, anticipatory bail application was filed before the trial court on May 14 and she was granted anticipatory bail the next day, Mehta said.

After hearing arguments from the solicitor general, the bench of Justice A K Singh issued notice to Giribala Singh and fixed the case for hearing on May 25.

The family of Twisha Sharma has also filed a revision petition against grant of anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh.

Notably, Police had said that Giribala Singh had not been cooperating with the probe. On Thursday, police served a third and final notice to her, asking her to record her statement in the case. According to police, two earlier notices issued to Giribala Singh could not be served as she was allegedly not present at her residence. Police said that during the third attempt too, she was not found at home, following which the notice was sent to her electronically through WhatsApp directing her to record her statement at the earliest. Police said the notice would be treated as duly served through electronic mode.