NEW DELHI: Twisha Sharma’s mother-in-law and retired judge Giribala Singh on Friday denied allegations that she contacted influential public figures to influence the investigation following the 33-year-old’s death at her matrimonial home in Bhopal earlier this month.Addressing reporters, Giribala Singh said the phone calls made after the incident were only related to condolences and rejected allegations that she attempted to interfere in the probe.“People were calling only to offer condolences. Whatever is being shown in the media is wrong,” she said.“The calls I made were only related to condolences. What else could I do? If I really wanted to influence the police, then why is the situation such that police officials are entering my house when I am not even there?” she added.Singh questioned why she was being treated “like a terrorist.”Twisha Sharma, a former model and actor from Noida, was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s upscale Katara Hills locality on May 12. Her family has accused her husband Samarth Singh and his family of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Police have registered an FIR under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita along with provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Giribala Singh explains CCTV-related calls
Responding to allegations that she contacted CCTV technicians immediately after the incident, Giribala Singh said she was only trying to understand what had happened inside the house.“I wanted to see what exactly happened in my house. I had installed CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of the residence,” she said.She also alleged that videos and audio clips circulating on social media had been manipulated. “Everything is fabricated and framed. If they are honest, they should submit their phones as well,” she claimed.“My advocate has filed an application because they are entering my house like this and secretly recording. This is also a violation of the IT Act, without my notice. And those are doctored videos. Doctored audios. They have done something with their conversation,” she added.These remarks came after Twisha’s father Navnidhi Sharma issued a press note alleging that several influential individuals, including judges, IAS and IPS officers, advocates and doctors, were contacted by Giribala Singh after Twisha’s death.Along with the note, the family’s legal team released a list of mobile numbers and names allegedly contacted following the incident.According to the press note, the names included Justice Manoj Kumar (ADJ), Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh (Lokayukta), District Judge AK Mishra, Advocate Venosh Carlo, Dr Rajbala Bahudoria, Siabala Baghel, Pramod Jharia, Dr Yashveer, Pankaj Kushwaha, Ajey Singh, Manojkumar and persons allegedly linked to CCTV maintenance, including Rohit Vishwakarma and Vinod Wani.“The family has no knowledge regarding the contents or purpose of these conversations and does not draw any conclusion from them. However, considering the gravity of the case, the timing and frequency of such communications deserve independent examination by the SIT and competent authorities,” the press note stated.“CCTV footage and digital records are crucial pieces of evidence in any suspicious death investigation. The family therefore believes that the purpose, timing and context of every such communication must be independently verified through forensic and investigative processes,” the note added.The family also appealed to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine “call detail records, digital communications, CCTV logs, maintenance records and other electronic evidence relating to the period immediately following the incident.”
Retired judge questions police conduct
During the media interaction, Giribala Singh accused the local police of acting under pressure and questioned the fairness of the investigation.“I feel that the police agency here has come under a lot of pressure from them. I feel like a stranger in my own city. So, is Madhya Pradesh not competent to conduct an impartial investigation? This is the question,” she said.She claimed she received her first police notice through WhatsApp only on Thursday after leaving for Jabalpur. “The first WhatsApp notice came yesterday after I left for Jabalpur. I have my legal rights,” she said.“Everyday, they sat right here in front of me and took the statement of the peon. They could have taken mine too,” she added.
Why treated ‘like a terrorist’?
“I did not receive any notice from the police. They are not interested in recording my statement. They also did not bother to collect the CCTV footage. We are the ones providing documents to them,” she said.Giribala Singh also said she had no objection to a CBI inquiry into the case. “If there is a CBI investigation, we have no problem with it. I feel that the local police are working in favour of the other side,” she added.Questioning the treatment meted out to her, she added, “Why am I being treated like a terrorist under UAPA? I will go to the police station today because newspapers are unnecessarily reporting that I failed to appear before the police three times.”Her remarks came after Bhopal Police issued a third and final notice asking her to appear for recording of her statement. “If she does not cooperate, we will move the sessions court seeking cancellation of her bail,” Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said earlier, according to PTI.Police sources said notices had been sent through post and WhatsApp after officers allegedly failed to find her at home during previous visits.
Do you think media reporting has influenced public perception of this case?
‘Where is Samarth?’: Giribala Singh dodges question
Meanwhile, Samarth Singh, Twisha Sharma’s husband and the main accused in the case, remains absconding nearly 10 days after the FIR was registered.When asked about his whereabouts, Giribala Singh replied, “My lawyer will speak on this matter.”Madhya Pradesh Police has issued a Look Out Circular (LoC) against Samarth Singh and increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to Rs 30,000. “Efforts are on to arrest the main accused in the case. We have also enhanced the reward to Rs 30,000 and also issued a Look Out notice in the matter,” Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar told PTI.Twisha’s family has also challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Family lawyer Ankur Pandey said the lower court ignored legal provisions related to dowry death cases while granting relief.“We will contest the bail on the ground that the subordinate court ignored material evidence and provisions related to presumption in dowry death cases under Section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023,” Pandey said.
