Twisha’s mom-in-law tried to tamper with evidence, MP government tells HC
BHOPAL: The investigation into Noida woman Twisha Sharma’s death by alleged suicide at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12 appeared to gain momentum Friday as the MP high court issued notice to her mother-in-law, retired district judge Giribala Singh, on the state’s plea to cancel her anticipatory bail on grounds of suspected tampering of evidence.The notice coincided with the arrest of the former model-actor’s absconding husband, lawyer Samarth Singh, on the premises of the district court in Jabalpur ahead of a planned surrender after withdrawing an anticipatory bail plea filed by his counsel in the high court the previous day.Twisha’s family, camping in Bhopal for over a week to demand a proper investigation into allegations of foul play in her death, was informed earlier in the day that the state govt had formally handed over the probe to the CBI.The notification mentions that the agency’s brief is to investigate “any offence, abetment or conspiracy arising out of or linked to the case”, broadening the scope of the FIR registered at Katara Hills police station about alleged dowry death, cruelty by husband or relatives and common intention.Officials said the CBI would register a fresh case and take custody of documents, forensic material, digital evidence and case diaries from MP Police.Giribala has been accused of making calls to “influential people” and “CCTV technicians” within hours of her daughter-in-law’s death. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state govt, told the high court during a hearing of the state’s plea to cancel Giribala’s anticipatory bail that there was reason to believe it had been “granted in a very hurried manner”.He pointed out that the autopsy on Twisha’s body was conducted at AIIMS Bhopal on May 13 and Giribala filed for anticipatory bail the very next day. A sessions court accepted the plea within 24 hours.The state govt also requested the high court to take cognisance of allegations by Twisha’s family that the retired district judge had been trying to obstruct the probe, backed by police’s statement that she wasn’t cooperating with investigators. After issuing notice to Giribala, the bench scheduled the next hearing for May 25.Police served a “third and final notice” to Giribala Thursday, asking her to record her statement in the case. Two previous notices could not be served as she was allegedly not present at her residence on both occasions. She wasn’t home during police’s third visit, too, after which the notice was sent to her number over WhatsApp.On Samarth withdrawing his anticipatory bail application and seeking permission from the vacation bench of Justice A K Singh to surrender before the district court and then file a fresh bail plea, solicitor general Mehta and advocate general Prashant Singh argued there was no provision for an accused to ask for such a privilege on the day of surrender. The bench then allowed Samarth only to withdraw his plea.When he reached the district court in the evening, a police team was already there to arrest him. Members of Twisha’s family and their lawyers were present, too. Police had announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to Samarth’s arrest.
