MP Women's Panel Visits Central Jail as Central Agency Correlates Digital and Medical Clues

BHOPAL: The ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the high-profile Tvisha Sharma death case has intensified following the retrieval of the second post-mortem report. Investigators have now shifted focus toward matching detailed medical, digital, and forensic evidence to piece together the exact sequence of events leading up to the actor-model’s death. The development comes alongside a surprise inspection by the state women's commission at the Bhopal Central Jail, where the prime accused and retired district judge, Giribala Singh, remains in judicial custody.

Surprise Inspection in Prison Ward

A team from the Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Women, led by Chairperson Rekha Yadav, conducted an unannounced visit to the Bhopal Central Jail on Wednesday. During the inspection of the female ward, the team met with retired judge Giribala Singh, who is currently under judicial custody in connection with the dowry death case.

Commission officials observed Singh reading Devdutt Pattanaik’s mythological fiction The Pregnant King inside her cell. Upon noticing the arriving delegation, she immediately closed the book. Yadav enquired about the prison conditions, dietary provisions, and medical facilities available to the inmates. According to commission sources, Singh remained calm and stated she had no complaints regarding her treatment.

No Special Treatment Signs Found

The women's panel inspected various sections of the correctional facility, including the hospital ward, kitchen, library, and the art and craft center. Following allegations from the victim’s family regarding potential VIP treatment due to the accused's former judicial standing, the commission stated that no such irregularities were visible during the ground check.

"The inmate appeared composed and did not request any interventions. The commission found no immediate signs indicating that special privileges are being extended to any specific individual within the ward," Rekha Yadav later confirmed to reporters.

However, prison authorities remain on alert, deploying additional guards and upgrading CCTV surveillance near the barrack. Official records indicate that 29 inmates currently serving sentences in the same jail were originally convicted by Singh during her tenure as a district judge in Bhopal between July 2021 and February 2023.

Focus Reverts to Missing Evidence

Meanwhile, the CBI is scrutinizing significant procedural gaps attributed to the local police during the initial hours of the investigation at the Katara Hills residence. Ankur Pandey, the legal counsel representing Tvisha Sharma’s parents, has raised fresh questions over a timeline discrepancy involving the retrieval of a key ligature material.

According to legal documents filed before the High Court, Sub-Inspector Dinesh Sharma reached the spot at approximately 9:42 AM on May 13. While early crime scene photographs clearly showed two distinct belts hanging from separate ceiling rings in the room, the local police reportedly seized only one belt. Furthermore, the seizing officer kept the material in his personal vehicle instead of delivering it immediately to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) forensic experts, handing it over only on May 15 after protests from the family.

Digital Data Under Expert Review

The central agency is conducting a comprehensive review of deleted data, chat history, call logs, and photographs extracted from the mobile phones and laptops recovered from the household. The data correlation aims to verify claims regarding severe financial demands and mental harassment following the couple's marriage in December last year.

Investigating officials are also verifying medical documents presented by the defense during the initial bail applications, which claimed the deceased was undergoing psychiatric treatment. As part of this validation process, the CBI recently questioned Bhopal-based psychiatrist Dr. Satyakant Trivedi. While confirming the meeting with investigators, Dr. Trivedi declined to share specific clinical details publicly, citing medical ethics and patient confidentiality regulations.

Legal Representation Dilemma in Court

The legal proceedings took another turn in the district court after advocates Reina Verma and Shreyas Saxena filed their Vakalatnama to represent Giribala Singh. Because both lawyers are registered panel members of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel under the Legal Services Authority, the local court has sought formal administrative clearance from the authority before permitting them to lead the defense.

The CBI's special crime unit continues to cross-reference the findings of the second autopsy—conducted by a specialized panel from AIIMS Delhi following a Madhya Pradesh High Court directive—with the physical evidence collected during the recent dummy-weight simulation exercise at the crime scene.