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As the CBI custody of former judge Giribala Singh ends today, concerns are growing over her safety if she is sent to judicial custody in the Twisha Sharma death case.
Security Concerns Mount for Twisha Sharma’s Mother-In-Law, Giribala Singh (Right) as CBI Custody Ends Today. (Source: X/PTI)
Three years ago, Giribala Singh was among the most powerful judicial figures in Bhopal. As District and Sessions Judge, she presided over some of the city’s most sensitive criminal cases, delivering judgments that shaped the fate of accused persons appearing before her court.
Today, the 63-year-old retired judge finds herself in a dramatically different position. Last week, Singh returned to the same court complex not as a judge but as an accused in the high-profile Twisha Sharma death case, escorted by officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court has remanded accused Giribala Singh and Samarth Singh to judicial custody until June 16. They have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
Attention has shifted to a new question that has generated discussion within legal and prison administration circles: if she is sent to judicial custody, where can she be housed safely?
According to reports, sources familiar with prison administration said the issue goes beyond routine procedure. During her tenure as Bhopal District and Sessions Judge between July 2021 and February 2023, Singh handled a large number of criminal cases. These included matters involving serious offenders, hardened criminals and accused connected to high-profile investigations, including the Vyapam scam.
Many inmates currently lodged in Madhya Pradesh prisons are believed to have been convicted or sentenced by courts over which Singh presided. This has created concerns about how prison authorities would manage her custody if she is sent to jail.
“Ordinarily, an accused is sent to jail and treated like any other inmate. But a former judge presents a completely different security challenge,” NDTV report quoted a source familiar with prison procedures.
Security concerns
Officials privately acknowledge that the prospect of a former district judge sharing prison space with inmates who may have received convictions or lengthy sentences during her judicial career presents an unusual challenge. Such a situation could possibly create security concerns inside prison facilities.
As a result, prison authorities are expected to undertake a detailed assessment if the court orders judicial custody. The review would focus on ensuring her safety while also maintaining prison security and administrative control.
CBI yet to reveal next move
The CBI has not yet indicated whether it intends to seek an extension of Singh’s police remand. Investigators are expected to decide whether further custodial interrogation is required before producing her before the court.
The agency could either seek additional police custody or request that she be sent to judicial custody. Officials suggest the decision will depend on the progress of questioning and the evidence gathered so far.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the death of model and actress Twisha Sharma remains active.
Giribala Singh and her son, Samarth Singh, have denied allegations relating to assault and destruction of evidence in connection with the case. According to reports, both have maintained that their relationship with Twisha Sharma was cordial and normal.
Investigators are now comparing those claims with witness testimonies, forensic findings, electronic records and other evidence collected during the course of the investigation.
Crime scene reconstruction
On Monday afternoon, the CBI carried out a reconstruction of events linked to the case as part of its ongoing probe.
Examinations of material seized during the investigation are also continuing. The agency is attempting to verify different versions of events while cross-checking evidence obtained from multiple sources.
As the period of police custody nears its conclusion, the focus has returned to the courtroom where Giribala Singh once served as a judge. The court will now determine her immediate future and decide whether she remains in police custody or is sent to judicial custody. If judicial custody is ordered, prison authorities may have to confront a rare and complex situation.
For many inmates currently lodged in Madhya Pradesh’s prisons, Singh may not be viewed as a fellow prisoner. Instead, she could be remembered as the judge who once presided over their cases and pronounced judgment on them. That possibility has turned an already high-profile investigation into a unique challenge for both the legal system and prison administration.
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