Bhopal

Proceedings in a Bhopal court on Tuesday witnessed dramatic exchanges as retired district judge Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh, accused in connection with the death of former actor-model Twisha Sharma, were remanded to judicial custody until June 16.

The two were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Shobhna Bhalave after the completion of their custodial interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency informed the court that key aspects of the investigation remain incomplete, including examination of electronic evidence and analysis of a second post-mortem report, and sought judicial custody for the accused.

During the hearing, Giribala Singh directly addressed the court and raised concerns about her safety and that of her son if lodged in jail. She alleged that Samarth Singh had been assaulted by advocate Anurag Shrivastava, who represents Twisha Sharma's family, during an earlier court appearance in Jabalpur. She also complained of being subjected to what she described as a sustained media trial.

The former judge argued that her years of service in the judiciary had resulted in several convicted individuals being sent to prison and claimed that incarceration in the same facility could pose a threat to her and her son's security. She reportedly requested special protection and separate accommodation inside the prison.

The defence team further sought an inquiry into CCTV footage from the Jabalpur district court premises to verify the alleged assault and urged the court to restrict media coverage of the ongoing investigation.

After hearing the submissions, the magistrate directed that adequate security arrangements be ensured for the accused in jail. The court also instructed the CBI to take measures to protect them from excessive media exposure while being transported.

Outside the courtroom, lawyers representing Twisha Sharma's family strongly denied the allegations made by the accused. Advocate Anurag Shrivastava described the claims as baseless and maintained that neither he nor co-counsel Ankur Pandey would be deterred from pursuing the case.

Shrivastava alleged that efforts had been made from the beginning to prevent the victim's family from receiving legal support. He also noted that Samarth Singh had earlier been declared absconding and carried a reward of Rs 30,000 before his arrest.

The developments come a day after the CBI conducted a reconstruction exercise at Twisha Sharma's matrimonial home in Bhopal. Using mannequins and with the assistance of forensic experts, investigators recreated the sequence of events surrounding the circumstances of her alleged suicide on May 12.

According to officials, both Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh were asked to explain in detail the events that unfolded on the night of the incident.

Twisha Sharma's initial post-mortem examination reportedly recorded multiple ante-mortem injuries caused by blunt force trauma, findings that her family has cited in support of allegations of domestic abuse and harassment linked to dowry demands.

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Following Tuesday's court order, the accused mother and son were taken to Bhopal Central Jail under tight security arrangements as the investigation continues.