Anticipatory bail rejected a day earlier; husband Samarth Singh on CBI remand till May 29

A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers on Thursday questioned retired judge Giribala Singh for over six hours at her residence in the Kolar Hills area, as her arrest in the Twisha Sharma death case appeared imminent.

The questioning began around 10:30 am, barely 24 hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled her anticipatory bail in a late-night order. Sources familiar with the matter said the former judge was being confronted with digital evidence and forensic reports.

Heavy Security, Barricades Outside Residence

The retired judge’s house has been virtually sealed. Personnel from the Kolar Hills and Bag Sevania police stations have been deployed outside, and barricades have been put up around the property. Officials from both police stations were also seen entering the premises.

According to local authorities, the heavy security is a precautionary measure to manage the growing crowd of onlookers and media personnel that has gathered in the upscale locality.

3D Camera Used to Map Crime Scene

Investigators brought a high-intensity 3D camera inside the house to conduct a 360-degree forensic mapping of the entire premises. The technology is typically used to prepare scientific evidence for court.

Initial reports indicate that the camera was also positioned on the balcony to scan neighbouring rooftops and terraces. The CBI is trying to determine whether the spot where Twisha died was visible from any adjoining property.

What the High Court Said

In a strongly worded 17-page order issued late Wednesday, the High Court noted that the lower court had failed to properly examine the case diary and evidence. The court observed that multiple injury marks were found on the body, which the accused side could not explain satisfactorily.

“The trial court did not consider the seriousness of the case. It was not appropriate to grant relief to the accused,” the order stated, according to legal sources.

The court also took note of WhatsApp chats that allegedly show the mother-in-law and husband pressuring Twisha over her character and demanding an abortion.

Husband on CBI Remand Till May 29

Meanwhile, Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh remains in CBI custody after the agency was granted his remand until May 29. Officials are questioning him about the sequence of events on the night of May 12, when Twisha died under suspicious circumstances at their home.

Investigators are also looking into his ten-day disappearance. Police have confirmed that Singh had switched off his mobile phone and hid in Jabalpur while on the run. “He kept changing locations and avoided direct contact with people,” an official said.

The Case So Far

Twisha Sharma, an actress and model who had worked with several multinational brands and appeared in two Telugu films, died on the night of May 12. While her in-laws have maintained it was a suicide, her family has alleged murder.

A second post-mortem was conducted by a team from Delhi AIIMS at the Bhopal AIIMS on May 24. The final report, including histopathology and viscera analysis, is still awaited. Her last rites were performed later that evening at the Bhadbhada crematorium.

What Happens Next

With the CBI team expected to leave the residence at any time, officials said a medical examination will likely precede a formal arrest. The agency is also examining call detail records and CCTV footage from the area.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter on May 25, with the Chief Justice expressing concern over questions being raised about the judiciary’s impartiality. For now, all eyes remain on the Kolar Hills residence, where a former judge’s fate hangs in the balance.