Former Judge Giribala Singh Arrested In Twisha Sharma Case As Republic’s Relentless Campaign Sees Huge Impact

Bhopal: In a major Republic Media Network impact, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested former district judge Giribala Singh from her Bhopal residence. 

This high-profile arrest comes less than 24 hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed her anticipatory bail, marking a dramatic turning point in the investigation into the tragic death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken major action in the Twisha Sharma death case and has arrested Giribala. The CBI probe has revealed that Giribala was allegedly involved in the destruction of evidence and the suppression of crucial information.

The agency has intensified its action on angles related to criminal conspiracy, tampering of evidence and influencing the investigation.

At present, the CBI is questioning Giribala. Sources say the agency is likely to produce her before the court and seek custody remand to investigate other aspects linked to the case and the possible involvement of other accused persons. Further major revelations are expected in the case.

Twisha, a former Miss Pune, actor, and MBA graduate originally from Noida, was found dead on May 12, 2026, just five months after marrying Giribala’s son, lawyer Samarth Singh.

The Timeline of Events Leading to the Arrest

The case has rapidly escalated over the past two weeks, shifting from an initial suicide report to a full-fledged CBI investigation involving allegations of dowry, forced abortion, and physical abuse.

1. The Marriage: December 9, 2025

Twisha Sharma marries lawyer Samarth Singh. According to the CBI's FIR, the groom's family allegedly demanded an immediate cash payment of Rs 2 lakh during the wedding, heavily straining Twisha's family.

2. Allegations of Harassment Begin: Jan – April 2026

The FIR states that soon after the wedding, Samarth and Giribala allegedly began taunting Twisha, claiming the wedding was below their standards. She was reportedly denied household funds and pressured to ask her parents for money.

3. Forced Pregnancy Termination: Early May 2026

Twisha becomes pregnant. The FIR alleges her husband and mother-in-law subjected her to severe character assassination, falsely claiming the child wasn't Samarth's, and pressured her into undergoing an abortion.

4. Twisha Found Dead: May 12, 2026

Twisha is discovered hanging from a ceiling fan on the terrace of her matrimonial home in Bagmugalia, Bhopal. Hours before her death, panicked WhatsApp messages to her family described her feeling stuck.

5. FIR and Controversial Interim Bail: May 15, 2026

An FIR is officially registered. Within hours, a Bhopal trial court grants interim anticipatory bail to Giribala Singh on account of her age (63). Meanwhile, her son Samarth Singh is taken into custody.

6. High Court Quashes Bail: May 27, 2026

The Madhya Pradesh High Court officially quashes Giribala’s anticipatory bail, citing her complete lack of cooperation with the CBI and pointing out hidden physical injuries on Twisha's body.

Why the High Court Cancelled the Ex-Judge's Bail?

Justice Devnarayan Mishra of the Madhya Pradesh High Court sharply criticised the lower court for overlooking critical evidence in the case diary. Several key findings ultimately shattered Giribala Singh’s legal protection.

While the post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as hanging, it exposed six other antemortem (before death) injuries, including four on her left arm, one on her ring finger, and one on her head. 

A medical query report firmly rejected the defence's claim that these occurred while taking her body down.

The prosecution revealed that Giribala refused to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Authorities issued notices five times, which her party refused to physically accept, eventually forcing the CBI to serve them via WhatsApp.

Senior advocates presented Twisha’s final text messages. In them, she told relatives her in-laws were falsely accusing her of being a "drug addict," "neither allowing her to live happily nor permitting her to cry," and that Samarth demanded she terminate her pregnancy as a condition to live in the house.

The Defence Counter-Argument

Giribala Singh's defence counsel argued that Twisha was suffering from emotional distress and that past financial transactions showed Giribala had transferred over Rs 7 lakh to Twisha via UPI. 

However, the High Court dismissed this, noting the money transfers occurred months before the death and did not disprove ongoing dowry harassment closer to the incident.

Following the quashing of the bail, a CBI team arrived at Giribala's Bhopal home on Thursday afternoon and formally placed her under arrest. 

Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, expressed immense gratitude to the judiciary and the CBI, calling the arrest a deeply positive message across society and the first major step toward uncovering the complete truth.

Media coverage detailing Giribala Singh's arrest provides further broadcast updates on the CBI's arrival at the former judge's Bhopal home following the High Court's ruling.

Public Thanks Republic For Relentless Campaign

The CBI’s decisive action and the High Court's intervention have triggered an outpouring of public support across the country. Viewers have widely credited Republic TV’s fearless, round-the-clock investigative journalism as a crucial catalyst in preventing a high-profile cover-up and ensuring that an influential former judicial officer was held accountable under the law. 

Messages and notes of appreciation have flooded in from citizens across various states, praising Arnab Goswami and the network's unflinching tenacity over the last fortnight:

"Republic TV is an outstanding media outlet, unwavering in its commitment to revealing facts, thereby upholding democratic rights in their entirety. But for the Republic's diligent coverage, Giribala's arrest might not have occurred. Kudos to Arnab and his entire team for their exceptionally thorough work." — Rajagopalan D., Bangalore

"Republic and your entire dedicated team have resoundingly established that you are an honest, responsible, and nationalistic media house for fearlessly trying to unfold the Giribala-Twisha tangle. You have shown great, unflinching tenacity in the last 14 days of covering the most followed matter in the nation today." — Rakesh Sharma, Noida

Sanjeev from Delhi shared a similar sentiment, noting: "The genuine efforts of Arnab and his team have eventually made it possible. This is indeed a proud moment for all who stand for justice."

Yogesh Desai from Surat expressed his gratitude for the relentless legal and journalistic scrutiny: "Arnab, we are all grateful to you for the courageous effort to get the bail cancelled. You are the only journalist in India who can lead a campaign like this. God bless you."

Rahul Gupta from Jaipur emphasised the deep public empathy surrounding the tragedy: "Arnab, we are with Twisha and her family through you. Sadly, a victim's family has to suffer so much. We empathise with them deeply and view this case with the same gravity as if it happened within our own families."

Nihita from Madhya Pradesh wrote in to highlight a critical societal angle: "Great job by Republic on the cancellation of bail granted to Giribala. But when shall we start questioning the structural reality, too? Twisha was confiding in her mother; she was subjected to such torture that it drove her to this end. It is high time that parents start actively protecting and standing by their daughters instead of treating them as paraye ghar ki (belonging to another household)."

Meanwhile, analytical viewers are already pushing for the next steps in accountability. Citizens are demanding that investigators scrutinise the initial local police response, asking whether the police station where the incident occurred made the proper General Diary (GD) entries, what was documented in those initial hours, and exactly what time the Prosecution Inspector was formally notified.