Security concerns raised over ex-judge’s possible prison stay

Bhopal: With former judge Giribala Singh’s police remand in Twisha Sharma death case is set to end on Tuesday, concerns are being raised within legal and prison circles over the possibility of her being sent to judicial custody in a regular jail facility in Bhopal, given that several inmates currently lodged in the premises were either convicted or sentenced during her tenure on the bench, say sources.

Singh served as the district judge of Bhopal between 2021 and 2023.

It remains unclear whether the CBI, which is currently probing the Twisha Sharma death case, will seek an extension of Singh’s police remand or produce her before court for judicial custody. The decision is expected to depend on the progress of interrogation and whether investigators believe further custodial questioning is necessary.

Sources familiar with prison administration said apprehensions came from the fact that inmates currently housed in state prisons include women convicted or sentenced in cases heard by Giribala Singh during her judicial career. Among them are accused and convicts linked to the Vyapam scam, besides offenders involved in serious criminal cases adjudicated by courts presided over by her.

Officials privately acknowledged that lodging a former judicial officer in a regular prison barrack presents unusual security and administrative concerns. Prison authorities are often required to assess potential vulnerabilities, particularly where inmates may harbour resentment arising out of convictions or sentencing delivered in the past.

“In such cases, prison administration generally conducts a threat and vulnerability assessment,” said a senior official familiar with jail procedures, adding that former judicial officers, police personnel, and public servants can require additional security considerations due to the nature of their previous roles.

Under prison rules, authorities may adopt special arrangements in exceptional situations involving vulnerable inmates or those facing heightened security risks. These can include segregated accommodation, enhanced monitoring, or separate enclosures depending on the perceived threat, say officers.