HC defers hearing on pleas against ex-judge Giribala Singh

Bhopal: The vacation bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday deferred the hearing on petitions seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to former district judge Giribala Singh, mother-in-law of model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma, to May 27.

The petitions were filed by Twisha Sharma’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, and the state govt. The hearing was postponed after senior counsel Meenakshi Arora, appearing for Giribala Singh via video conferencing from Delhi, informed the court that she had not received a copy of Navnidhi Sharma’s petition.

The bench of Justice DN Mishra directed that a copy of the petition be provided to the respondent’s counsel and said the two pleas would be heard separately if the grounds for cancellation of bail differed.

The state govt argued that Giribala Singh, who earlier served as a district judge in Bhopal, was granted anticipatory bail on May 15 in a “hurried manner” and was not cooperating with the investigation. The prosecution also expressed concern that she could influence evidence while out on bail.

Appearing for the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that Twisha Sharma was found dead under suspicious circumstances on the night of May 12, and her post-mortem was conducted the following day. Singh applied for anticipatory bail on May 14 and secured relief a day later.

In his petition, Navnidhi Sharma said the FIR in the case was registered three days after the incident and argued that custodial interrogation of the accused, including Giribala Singh, was necessary.