Bhopal, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former judicial officer Giribala Singh on Monday denied allegations of cruelty and abetment to suicide in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma, telling the Madhya Pradesh High Court that her displeasure over Sharma’s decision to terminate her pregnancy did not amount to harassment.
The submissions were made by Singh’s counsel before Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari during the hearing of her bail plea. After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court reserved its order.
Defending Singh, her senior counsel argued that she had been upset by Sharma’s decision to undergo an abortion because both Singh and her son, lawyer Samarth Singh, wanted the child. However, the defence maintained that Singh had neither forced Sharma to terminate the pregnancy nor subjected her to cruelty.
“The mother-in-law was very upset because the daughter-in-law was not listening to her and had gone through with the act,” the counsel submitted, arguing that Singh had reacted in anger and later apologised for her remarks.
Addressing alleged chat messages in which Singh purportedly called Sharma a “murderer” over the abortion, the defence argued that the words had been spoken in the heat of the moment and did not establish that Singh had instigated Sharma to take her own life.
Singh’s counsel further contended that the chats cited in the case pointed towards the alleged conduct of Samarth Singh rather than his mother. The defence also argued that Sharma had not been confined to her matrimonial home and had planned to move to Delhi, where she had applied for a job.
Concluding the arguments, the defence urged the court to consider granting bail in view of the nature of the alleged offences and the applicable legal provisions.
Opposing the bail plea, senior advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, representing the prosecution, argued that Singh could influence witnesses and evidence while the investigation remained underway.
The case relates to the death of Sharma, a resident of Noida who married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh after the two met through a dating application. Samarth Singh is the son of former judicial officer Giribala Singh.
On May 12, Sharma was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal, barely five months after the marriage. Her family accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to domestic violence and harassment over dowry demands.
An FIR was registered at Katara Hills police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Giribala Singh, a former president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Madhya Pradesh, was initially granted anticipatory bail by a sessions court. The High Court subsequently cancelled that relief after the state government and Sharma’s family challenged the order.
The High Court’s decision on Singh’s latest bail plea is awaited.
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